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Women in the Bible
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Lesson Eight: by turtle
Todays church world is really no different then Peter's and Paul's day. In fact we
are often reminded how hard it is to serve the Lord no matter what country we
are in. Even in a Christian nation we struggle with those who want to shut us up.
The fact remains that Christians and those who are opposed to Christianity are
often seen at war. Some country it is a fight for life literally, but in others it is
only a spiritual battle. Today I want to talk about spiritual warfare. Everyday men
and women are in the frontlines serving God. whether it is the street evangelist, to
the preacher or teacher, gospel worker/layperson, missionary or even prayer
warrior, we are out to fight the battle for the Lord. Some are online tooting the
trumpeting, others are in market square, and some sit in idly by wondering what
all the fuss is about.
Are war is not about combat fighting though many can fight physically as well as
spiritually. It is about fighting with the sword of the Spirit. The sword is the Holy
Spirit and the weapon is the Word of God. One can not fight without the word of
God.
Ephesians 6:12-13 KJV
(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
(13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Often women are not taught about warfare. Why because men do not see them as
having the same ability to fight as they do. Problem is women have been fighting
battles for centuries. Women often are more craftier then men, because they are
behind the scenes encouraging their men. Women are resolved if they can not
fight on the frontline they will on the backline. I know several prayer warriors
that were women. People that continually prayed for their pastors as well as their
churches and families. But women can do a lot more if men will allow it. But we
do not need men like Barak. Today we are going to be looking at the story of
Deborah. How a warrior name Barak turned the battle over to a women.
Judges 4:1-5 KJV
(1) And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud
was dead.
(2) And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned
in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the
Gentiles.
(3) And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred
chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
(4) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that
time.
(5) And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in
mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
The story begins at a time in Israel history where they were under captivity do to
sin. Yet even so they still had their leaders. Deborah was a Judge for Israel. She
was their leader and also made decisions for the people. Yet she was a women.
This right here shows women could hold a public office. She was one to be
respected.
Judges 4:6-8 KJV
(6) And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali,
and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go
and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the
children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
(7) And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's
army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
(8) And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou
wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Deborah called for a warrior to lead an army against those that oppressed them.
Barak a whimp to many said he could not go unless Deborah lead. How often we
sell our own soul to our spiritual leaders instead of standing on the word of God
ourselves and looking to Jesus. Barak was such a man. He felt intimidate by the
enemy. Why should any of us be intimidate by our enemy if we have the Lord
before us.
Well I be truthful we often are intimidate by our enemy. That is human nature. As
we grow stronger in the Lord we realize we do not need our leaders in the since of
leadership but as comrades in arms. Barak was not there yet. He was still needing
leadership. He was a man selling out to whoever would lead. Deborah was not a
bad choice for leadership, but what if someone else had been there in leadership
like a wolf in sheeps clothing. He would of landed up in trouble. It is important
for us to know who the enemy is as well as to know that Jesus is in the lead and
that are leaders are needing people to stand beside them.
Judges 4:9-13 KJV
(9) And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou
takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand
of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
(10) And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten
thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
(11) Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law
of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the
plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
(12) And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to
mount Tabor.
(13) And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of
iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto
the river of Kishon.
Deborah seems to get an attitude here about leading the people. She however does
recognize who is in control. She admits that God would have the victory but it be
given to a women. I wonder at this point if Deborah thought she would be the one
with the victory title. Let’s see what happens.
Judges 4:14-24 KJV
(14) And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD
hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So
Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
(15) And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with
the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot,
and fled away on his feet.
(16) But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of
the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there
was not a man left.
(17) Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the
Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of
Heber the Kenite.
(18) And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn
in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered
him with a mantle.
(19) And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am
thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
(20) Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when
any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that
thou shalt say, No.
(21) Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her
hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened
it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
(22) And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said
unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he
came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
(23) So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of
Israel.
(24) And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against
Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
The warriors were in hot pursuit of the enemy. And yet when all but one enemy
was defeat God handed the final victory to a Kenite not even an Israelite and not
even to a man but to a women. Jael put the final peg in the enemies head. By
taking a tent nail and hammering it in. Jael and her husband was on good terms
with the Israelites. She would help protect the people. I wonder how Deborah
must of felt that the battle was not hers but a Kenite no less. It is when we get a
righteous attitude that God knocks us down a few notches. No doubt even though
these people were friends there was a bit of humiliation involved that the high
rank official Deborah would of had to swallow. Maybe in reality it really was not
that bad. But one must wonder about it. Needless to say the prophecy was true
that battle was handed to a women someone willing to do as the Lord directed her
too. Deborah however did not let this bother her in the victory celebration. Both
Barak and Deborah in the proceeding chapter rejoices and takes credit for the
battle.
Judges 5:1-7 KJV
(1) Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
(2) Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly
offered themselves.
(3) Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I
will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
(4) LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field
of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped
water.
(5) The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before
the LORD God of Israel.
(6) In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways
were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
(7) The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I
Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
Deborah however was a might warrior for Israel, for when God called her up she
obeyed. That battle final blow might not of been hers, but the total effect of what
had happened was that she stood up when God called her. Then to beat all a man
no less turned the battle over to her.
I have to wonder, really wonder do we as Christians allow women to take a stand
in battle, or do we knock them down. Many men knock women down. Often
women make good leaders and are able to stand as long as they got God before
them. See with Christ someone the enemy will not prevail. It not that they can not
physically die, it is that they are able to triumph when God is for the battle.
A false leader does not have Christ before them. The spiritual battle can not be
won by them.
Matthew 24:24 KJV
(24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect.
If Christians are going to win the battle they need to know the enemy and know
how to defeat him. Only way is with Christ before you, and being prayed up and
filled up by the Holy Spirit and read up. Deborah was ready for she had
experience at being a judge. She was ready for battle that is why she was not
worried. With God before who can be against us. Are you ready for Spiritual
battle?
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