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Deborah Arose
The Israelites were beaten down by 20 years of slavery until Deborah ‘arose’. They were too tired and discouraged to fight. They needed someone to inspire them, and the Lord chose Deborah. Of all the things Deborah could have legitimately called herself – judge, prophetess, deliverer, intercessor, worshiper – she chose first and foremost to call herself a ‘mother’. She saw all of Israel as her children and longed for all her children (literal and figurative) to have peace, restoration and security. Women with positions of such power and influence were uncommon in that culture at the time. But scripture shows us that God raises up, equips, empowers, and promotes His obedient servants without regard to their gender, social standing, abilities, or lack thereof. ‘Though He requires no human aid, nevertheless He is glad to welcome the efforts of those who enhance their skills to further His purpose,’ says Matthew Henry. Verse 7 says no one in Israel would fight until Deborah ‘arose’ to stand in the face of fear and an impossible situation, willing to make a difference.
God has entrusted each of us with natural and spiritual gifts necessary to fulfill His purposes. Deborah busily exercised her gifts of prophecy and wisdom. Breaking through stereotypes, she rose as a political and spiritual leader over Israel. If she had not been obedient to act on what the Lord had told her to do, nothing would have changed. Often, it’s in difficult times that one’s true nature is revealed. May we all arise with humility and step into God’s purpose.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1 NIV).
Written by HEIDI WYSMAN
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About this Plan
A series by Heidi Wysman. Israel had many judges, but one of the memorable and prominent ones was a woman named Deborah. Not only was she notable because she was a woman, a mother and a grandmother, but also because she was a woman who knew the Lord. We see through her story that she had gained great prominence, distinction and importance on her own merits of character. Her love for, and faithfulness in, her Lord was one that brought her into her destiny of greatness. This Plan looks at what we can learn about leadership from Deborah.
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