Deborah - An Exceptional Woman, By Sis Kala

Wise leaders are rare.   They accomplish great amounts of work without direct involvement because they know how to work through other people.  They are able to see the big picture that often escapes those directly involved, so they make good mediators, advisors and planners.  Deborah fits this description perfectly.  She had all the leadership skills and she had a remarkable relationship with God.  The insight and confidence God gave this woman placed her in a unique position in the Old Testament.  Deborah is among the outstanding women of history.

Deborah’s story is told in Judges 4, 5 and it shows that she was not power hungry.  She wanted to serve God.  Whenever praise came her way, she gave God the credit.  She didn’t deny or resist her position in the culture as a woman and wife, but she never allowed herself to be hindered by it either.  Her story shows that God can accomplish great things through people who are willing to be led by Him.

During the period between Joshua and Samuel the prophet, the people of Israel had backslided worshipping idols, forsaking the creator God several times; and as a result met failures and oppression by their enemies.  At each period of their oppression God in His mercy raised a deliverer when they cried to Him in their distress. This was the fourth time during the period of the Judges that Israel was in distress for 20 long years being oppressed by Jabel the king of the Canaanites along with the captain of his army Sisera leading 900 chariots of iron.

We see the character of a great leader in Deborah, who took charge as God directed.  Deborah told Barak, a military general that God would be with him in battle but he insisted Deborah to go with him and she was responsible for leading the people into battle.

There are several outstanding characters which sparkle in the alphabets in her name that would help every woman to have a victorious Christian life.

D:           Divinely guided.  She was a prophetess able to speak the mind of God to others.  She was intimately acquainted   with God.  She sat beneath the palm tree giving instructions to people.  Are you divinely guided?

E:           Elected by God.  God chose her to lead Israel.  He chose to speak His heart to the people.  She encouraged Barak and accompanied him.  Are you an effective encourager?

B:           Blessing to Israel.  Deborah means a Bee.  She gave honey like counseling to individuals. Do you use the word of God which is sweeter than honey to counsel the lost souls?  Are you a blessing to those around you?

O:           Overcomer.  Her faith in God and His word made her to be the overcomer of the oppressor Sisera who came against Israel with 900 chariots.  You can face any adverse situations in life and be an overcomer through faith in God and the word of God.

R:           Revealer of God’s will and reformer of the nation.  She spoke to Barak about God’s will – Judges 4 – 14.  She was not only responsible for leading the people into battle but more than that she influenced them to live for God after the battle was over.  Have you understood God’s will and can you bring about a spiritual revival even from the grassroot level?

A:          Advisor and an able mother of Israel.  Deborah’s counseling was not only for individuals but for the whole nation of Israel to turn to God.  Chapter 5:7 says she was an able mother to Israel.  Can people look to you for advice and can you be a mother to the youngsters around you.

H:          Humble exalter of  another and honoured poetess.  In Chapter 4:9, she told Barak that the honour of the victory in the battle would go to another woman Jael.  She was not disturbed if another woman was exalted who never stepped out of her tent to battle.  She switched over from the sword to the pen.  She begins with praise to God and concludes with prayer and praise to God.    Do you honour God by praising Him at all times?

Deborah indeed is a challenge to every woman who is committed to God to be used as a prophetess, ruler, warrior, counselor, reformer, overcomer and a poetess. She reminds us of the need to be available both to God and others.  She encourages us to spend our efforts on what we can do rather than on worrying about what we can’t do.

As you ponder on these thoughts and plunge into action, God can use you to be an exceptional woman as Deborah.

MRS. KALA SAMUEL

CONATCT SISTER KALA SAMUEL FOR PRAYER AND COUNSELLING AT +919740989306