A Mother in Israel

After delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God gave them the land of Canaan. He promised to bless them abundantly if they followed His laws and commandments. He also warned that breaking their covenant with Him would result in suffering and destruction (Deuteronomy 27–30). Following the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned away from keeping the covenant. They were then oppressed by the neighboring peoples and cried out to God. In response, “the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judg. 2:16, NKJV). He also sent prophets to encourage the Israelites to renew their covenant with God and to empower them against their oppressors.

Deborah played a pivotal prophetic part in relaying God’s message to Israel and Barak, the nation’s commander, as he rallied the troops. It was Deborah who gave Barak the signal to begin the battle, stating, “ ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?’ ” (Judg. 4:14, NKJV).

As a judge in Israel, Deborah was key. Her leadership and her faith in God’s promise of victory strengthened the Israelites in their fight against their enemies. Barak’s skill as a war commander and his willingness, however reluctant, to lead the army of Israel also was important, but that was not what won the battle.

This is perhaps the most important message of the story of the prophet Deborah and of soldier Barak. In the middle of celebrating a stunning victory, the most powerful people in Israel—a judge and a victorious commander—led the community to glorify God. This is the nature of true spiritual leadership.

The prophetic ministry of Deborah testifies to the faithfulness of God in times of distress and oppression. When God gave her the message for Barak, she did not question the feasibility of summoning enough troops, nor did she argue that the Israelites were too weak to win. Instead, she relayed her message with conviction and encouraged Barak to set aside his doubts and to trust the providence of God.

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Additional Reading: Selected Quotes from Ellen G. White

For twenty years, the Israelites groaned under the yoke of the oppressor; then they turned from their idolatry, and with humiliation and repentance cried unto the Lord for deliverance. They did not cry in vain. There was dwelling in Israel a woman illustrious for her piety, and through her the Lord chose to deliver His people. Her name was Deborah. She was known as a prophetess, and in the absence of the usual magistrates, the people had sought to her for counsel and justice.
The Lord communicated to Deborah His purpose to destroy the enemies of Israel, and bade her send for a man named Barak. . . . and make known to him the instructions which she had received. She accordingly sent for Barak, and directed him to assemble ten thousand men of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and make war upon the armies of King Jabin.
Barak knew the scattered, disheartened, and unarmed condition of the Hebrews, and the strength and skill of their enemies. Although he had been designated by the Lord Himself as the one chosen to deliver Israel, and had received the assurance that God would go with him and subdue their enemies, yet he was timid and distrustful. He accepted the message from Deborah as the word of God, but he had little confidence in Israel, and feared that they would not obey his call. He refused to engage in such a doubtful undertaking unless Deborah would accompany him, and thus support his efforts by her influence and counsel. . . .
Barak now marshaled an army of ten thousand men, and marched to Mount Tabor, as the Lord had directed. Sisera immediately assembled an immense and well-equipped force, expecting to surround the Hebrews and make them an easy prey. The Israelites. . . looked with terror upon the vast armies spread out in the plain beneath them equipped with all the implements of warfare. . . . Large, scythelike knives were fastened to the axles, so that the chariots, being driven through ranks of the enemy, would cut them down like wheat before the sickle.
The Israelites had established themselves in a strong position in the mountains to await a favorable opportunity for an attack. Encouraged by Deborah’s assurance that the very day had come for signal victory, Barak led his army down into the open plain, and boldly made a charge upon the enemy. The God of battle fought for Israel and neither skill in warfare, nor superiority of numbers and equipment, could withstand them. The hosts of Sisera were panic-stricken. . . . God alone could have discomfited the enemy, and the victory could be ascribed to Him alone.—Reflecting Christ, p. 329.