Women in Battle. Peggy Scarborough

      Deborah, a Warring Judge

      Deborah had been a counselor of her people, then a judge of their disputes, but her greatest contribution came when she lead her people into war. Israel had been again on her spiritual seesaw and had not followed God. The Old Testament was very clear. God had told the children of Israel that if they followed Him they would be blessed, but if they turned away from Him they would receive curses and hardships.

      Deborah was on the scene at the time when Israel had blown it again and was now in deep trouble. For twenty years Jabin, the king of Canaan, had oppressed the people. Their women had been raped, some of their people murdered, their crops destroyed. But God always has a plan for His people to be delivered. This time the plan was Deborah. When Deborah saw her people becoming fearful and oppressed, she seethed with anger. So she sent for Barak, perhaps the strongest military man she knew. Deborah encouraged this great military man to go against Sisera. the commander of Jabin's army. She reminded him that God was greater than all of Sisera's 900 chariots. But Barak said, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you won't go with me, then I won't" (Judges 4:8). Barak knew that although he was a man of war, he had to have the how, where, when and what that Deborah the prophetess had. Obviously Barak understood that in God there is neither male nor female in the things of the spirit. He was way ahead of his time. Many men today do not yet have that revelation.

      Deborah inspired Barak. Woman is always man's greatest inspirer. Edith Deen reminds us in The Bible's Legacy For Women that Jerome was lauded and inspired in his translation of the Bible by the noble Roman woman Paula and her daughter. Deen further records that Michelangelo had Victoria Colonna to increase his faith (p. 8, 9).

      In Judges 4:9 we read that Deborah arose and went with Barak. She did not take time to ponder or think. It was time for war. Sisera had 10,000 men and 900 chariots. Deborah and Barak were terribly outnumbered. But Deborah prophesied to 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?" (Judg. 4: 14). Deborah had the rhema word from God. When God spoke, the victory was won.

      God is chairman of the ways and means commission. The battle is not won in the natural, but in the spiritual. Josephus tells us that a storm of sleet and hail burst over the plain from the east, driving right into the face of Sisera and his men and chariot drivers. The soldiers were unable to fight. Deborah and Barak and their forces had the storm behind them. But the rain became so violent that Sisera's iron chariots sank in the mud. His men were killed.

      Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran for his life. He ran to the house of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael met him and offered him hospitality. She must have been a prophetess also because she knew he was coming. Sisera felt safe since her husband was a Kenite. She gave him warm milk and offered him a place to sleep. While he was asleep, this warrior Jael took a peg which her husband had used to stretch her tent on the ground and with a hammer drove it right through Sisera's temples. When Barak came searching for Sisera, Jael showed him into her tent to see the dead Sisera. It was exactly as Deborah had prophesied--God had delivered the enemy into the hands of a woman.

      The message of Deborah stresses the truth that God raises up weak things to confound the mighty. Coleen Steinke in her informative manual on Deborah describes her: "A true woman of purpose, a woman of the spirit and prophetic word, a woman of birthing and nourishing, a woman of strength and power, vision and revelation, a woman of governing and ruling, a mother and judge of Israel"(p. 33). Women of God today must also yield to their calling.

      What made Deborah so strong? Vashti M. McKenzie in the book, Women: To Preach or Not to Preach edited by Ella Pearson Mitchell, affirms: "She had a job and did it. She was assigned, called and set aside by God as a prophetess and a judge. The execution of her job was not dependent upon whether other women were called to do the same job. The effectiveness of her ministry was not dependent upon whether other prophets agreed with God's selection. The shouldering of her responsibilities was not dependent upon public opinion of the community of religious leaders of the day. Her being a prophetess and a judge was not dependent upon the whims and fancies of her society, but upon the call of God" (P. 73).

      Where do today's Deborahs receive their power and strength? It is in the inner chamber--the place of intercession, the secret place of the most high God. It is in the inner sanctuary that today's Deborahs receive the pure prophetic word. This is where you get direction as to how to lead the family and church.

      A Deborah anointing is powerful. Coleen Steinke describes it: "A Deborah anointing stands against sin and unrighteousness within the church and will be used by God to be a strong voice against evil. Like Moses, she will hold the rod of authority from God, with the flre of the Holy Spirit, to destroy the works of the devil. She will help to lead the way for the deliverance of God's people... The Deborahs will not fear in adversity. but will go in faith and power and do mighty exploits in the name of Jesus... The Deborahs will move out into the cutting edge of what God is doing as trail blazers, and they will not fear knowing God will protect and provide for them. They will know that Jesus is their refuge and strong tower. God will contend with those who contend with you. Deborah knew when she heard from God, that with the word came the anointing... Deborah went with the fire of God to put out the devil's fire. The Deborahs today will have the prophetic word which gives guidance, direction, knowledge of what is going to happen. where to go, and how to move in the plan. She proceeds with confidence, fearlessly, knowing God's protection, provision, and the victory outcome. All is done before the battle ever takes place, because of the word of the Lord and the intercession... Deborah brought deliverance from the enemy to God's people... So will the Deborahs today do the same. They will be ministers of restoration and reconciliation. That is why the Deborahs must be willing to flght against the devil... As you rise in spiritual power, the enemy powers will rise against you. It is almost a confirmation to your call" (p. 35, 36). Coleen continues: "Boldness is coming upon the Deborahs ... The Deborahs will fight fire with fire and make a fire wall of protection around herself and the others with her" (p. 36).

      Deborah was a warrior ... Deborahs today are warriors.

      Hannah, a Prayer Warrior

      Hannah was a barren woman. But she believed God for a miracle. Every year she went to the temple at Shiloh to pray for a child. Elkanah. Hannah's husband, loved her dearly. But there was another wife involved, Peninnah, who bore Elkanah children. She made fun of Hannah because of her barrenness. Hannah must have prayed a long time without receiving an answer from God. Yet Hannah's husband loved her dearly. On one trip to Shiloh, Hannah was in deep distress. Elkanah said, "Why are you crying and why aren't you eating? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

      But Hannah was so heart-broken that she went into the tabernacle to pour out her soul to God. She had no doubt done this before. In fact, she had prayed so often that people could probably repeat her prayer for her that God give her a son. It appeared that everyone had heard her prayer but God. But this day she made a radical change in her praying. She desperately attempted to move God on her behalf. She violently leaped into prayer. John Avanzini says in his delightful book, Moving the Hand of God: "A desperate plunge into the arms of God brings His supply in the time of need." She prayed fervently: '0 Lord of hosts (which means Lord of battles), if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaiden, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life' ... (l Sam. 1: 11). Her prayer was one of a cry to God like a neglected child. She was saying, "God don't forget me." She was actually bargaining with God. Is this right for us today?" John Avanzini again reminds us that God has tattoos: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" ... (Is. 49: 16). Avanzini says, "Our names are tattooed inside His palms so that we are continually kept before Him. The context shows that it is to keep Him for forgetting us" (Moving the Hand of God, p. 36).

      The prayer was so fervent that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. Hannah explained, "No, my Lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1: 15).