No 4

(Deborah)

There are two Deborahs in the Bible – one who was Rebekah’s nurse; her death is mentioned in Gen 35:8, but she is not mentioned any where else in the Bible. The other more familiar one lived in the times of the Judges (1125 BC). She was considered both a judge and a prophetess. In her role as judge, the Israelites would come to her for their affairs - “the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” (Judg 4:5). She also had a sort of leadership role when she accompanied Barak, at his request, to fight the army lead by Sisera. He did not want to fight unless she was by his side – “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.” (v8). As a prophetess, she commanded Barak to attack Sisera because the Lord had delivered him into his hands (v14). The Lord destroyed the opposing army and Sisera fled to the tent of Heber the Kenite and another woman, Jael killed Sisera by driving a tent nail through his temples (V21) thus fulfilling the prophecy made by Deborah – “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.” (v9) The woman in this passage is Jael. God uses whom He pleases to work out His plans.