Judges 4:4 ” Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.”

Deborah was a judge, prophetess, and military heroine.  She joined the apprehensive Barak to rally the tribes of Israel in a united attack on the Canaanites and gained a great victory for the people.  Deborah was looked up to as one of the greatest leaders and judges in Israel.  In Hebrews 11:32,  Barak is commended for his faith because he trusted God and depended upon God’s spokesperson, Deborah.  That spirit of Deborah is found in strong, confident women of God today.  Women that God is using all the time to make a difference in His Kingdom.   Women who I have the privilege of calling my dear friends.

Judges 4:9 ” Very well, Deborah said, I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.”

Deborah had the distinction of being both a Judge and a Prophetess over Israel when she called Barak and gave him a command from the Lord. ‘Go, take 10,000 troops with you and I will lure your enemy Sisera and his troops into your hands.’ Barak was willing to go, but only if Deborah went with him. She agreed, but told him in the end it would be a woman getting the praise for the death of Sisera not him. As all of his troops fell around him, Sisera fled to a tent where Jael, a Kenite woman stood. He asked her to hide him, so she covered him inside the tent and stood at the entrance watching. But after Sisera fell asleep, she quietly slipped to him with a tent-peg and a hammer and drove the peg through his temple and he died at her feet. Thus the prophesy was fulfilled by her being honored rather than Barak.