Deborah - A Spiritual Mother

NT also have records of prophets and women who prophesied

Anna, the prophetess - Luke 2:36

Philip the Evangelist had four virgin daughters who prophesied - Acts 21:9

Mother of Israel – Judges 5:7

Most importantly, she rose as a mother of Israel, meaning, she was a spiritual mother to many thousands of Israelites.

Situation before Deborah rose as mother of Israel

There was no village life in Israel. This was because people were in fear of the Canaanites. They were afraid to walk on the roads (robbery) – Judges 5:6,7

Here, we understand the importance of being spiritual mothers. Apart from all our familial roles, as matured Christians, God wants all of us to be spiritual mothers guiding thousands in Christ. We need to set apart time for God and His works. Deborah sets us a good example. Although a wife with lots of familial responsibilities, she played many spiritual roles.

Deborah’s role in delivering Israelites from the Canaanites

She receives a word from God

Judges 4:6 - Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and [a]deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun

She calls for Barak

She just tells him what the Lord told her. It was a prophetic word that God was going to give them victory over Sisera and the Canaanites

Barak’s faith

Noticeable here is the weak faith of Barak

Judges 4:8 - And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”

Barak was not ready to go to the battlefield without Deborah although the Lord had promised victory. Probably, Barak would have concerned about the strength of the Canaanites – 900 chariots of iron.

This is a lesson for all of us. How often have we received the call of God to do something but we are reluctant to obey because we are afraid? How repeatedly does God reveal His plan for us yet fear grips us? Although victory was guaranteed, Barak’s mind was on the 900 iron chariots.

And why did Barak want Deborah to go with him? For sure, Deborah was not going to fight the battle. However, since she was a prophetess, he believed that her presence would strengthen him.

Deborah’s reply is overwhelming

Judges 4:9a - So she said, “I will surely go with you

- She willingly accepted.

- She understood the cowardice of Barak but did not fire at him. She rather accepted to go with him because she knew that God had called him to do the task even though he was fearful

- She went with Barak to fulfil the will of God

If Israelites would have lost the battle, Deborah, who went with Barak, would also have been killed. But her faith was so great.

As a spiritual mother, she stood with Barak and strengthened his faith.

We always need to speak words of encouragement to people around us. In today’s world, we have lots of people who add to the already existing fear. But we need to speak faith into lifeless and seemingly impossible situations.