Women – The Backup Leaders

Dear Ladies, Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Of the many things that had me in amazement since I became a mother was the sudden surge in a sense of responsibility and strength. I find that these complement each other and go together. Even during the most helpless situations, I have always found the strength to take care of my son and ensuring his safety and well-being. This is something which I always observed in my mother and wished in myself but found that it started to happen naturally. The change was organic needing no effort. This is something I would like to talk about in this post.

The woman in the family have the power to be a resilient force that maintains the balance, steering the family in the right direction. Although the man has been ordained the head of the family and active leadership is his duty, wives are often in a position to take responsibility of taking over the reins when the balance is lost and things go awry. One such character who took on the leadership role during a most pressing time in Israel is Deborah.

Deborah lived at a time when women were not entrusted with any public leadership. Israel was ruled by judges and Deborah was the only female judge (also a prophetess) among twelve other male judges. It’s not clear if these judges enjoyed any special privileges in the territory. It was during this time when the land was plundered and the people were treated as slaves. The Canaanite King Jabin ruled Israel for twenty years with his powerful army commander Sisera. It was during this period that Deborah rose to prominence. She was a well-known prophetess but the situation in Israel saw her rise to being resilient, steady minded leader. Deborah called for Barak the army commander of Israel and said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’(Judges 4: 6-7) Barak, however, was doubtful and replied by saying he would do all that if Deborah accompanied him. Unfazed by the distrust he had on her prophecy, she replied by saying, “Certainly I will go with you. But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4: 9).

Here we see a woman who is prepared to do anything to achieve the desired outcome no matter what course of action needs to be taken. This can only happen when one has absolute faith in God’s given prophecy and has a sturdy will to lead it to fruition.

Sisera (the army commander of Jabin) learned that Barak was leading a thousand men to Mount Tabor. But because the army of God was on Israel’s side, Sisera’s army was thrown into confusion and the battle was won by the Israelites.

Deborah witnesses the prophecy unfold at the war field resulting in the deliverance of Israelites from the clutches of bondage and slavery. She not just demonstrated courage and trust but also knowledge of war and war strategy. Deborah was well tuned to the heart of good which honed her and qualified her to be an ideal leader and led her to being called the Mother of Israel (Judges 4:5, 5:7). Even if all of us aren’t called to lead a bigger community or a nation, we are most definitely called to lead our families in the right way towards God. This can only happen if we enrich ourselves in His Word and know His Heart like Deborah had.

I pray that we are always conscious of God’s ways as we go on tackling the things of the world, so that there is never a scarcity of His word, His protection and blessings in our families.

Sis Jessie Don

God’s love missions family

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