Deborah: Prophetess, Judge and Team-Player

17th in a series on how men and women in the Bible

deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment

Deborah: Prophetess, Judge and Team-player

Many of us love to watch sports not necessarily for the great win, but to watch the teamwork and observe the attitudes of such talented men and women.  But many a career has been sacrificed to the idol of arrogance.  The following two paragraphs describe athletic stars who could’ve been great, but their narcissism and ego cut short their careers.

For as talented as Bill Romanowski was during his career, it would not be a stretch to suggest that the NFL would have been better off had he and others like him never played in the league. Romanowski was involved in multiple unflattering incidents as a player, the worst of which probably being when he clocked then-teammate Marcus Williams. That incident left Williams with serious injuries that ended the player's career.

All things considered, Randy Moss may be the most talented wide receiver in the history of the NFL. Yes, such a comment implies that Moss could have been better than Jerry Rice. Moss showed that he was a once-in-a-generation talent during his best seasons with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The shame of Moss' career is that he eventually wore out his welcome with every team that gave him a shot. 

The question we have to ask is: “What about me?”  Am I a good team player?  Do others request my participation or my resignation?  As we look at the ancient book of Judges in the Old Testament of the Bible we find many examples of good and bad team players.  Deborah, the prophetess is an example of someone who found herself in a role of leadership because of God’s hand upon her.  The General leading the military of Israel, Barak, was a fighting man, but he recognized his limitations as a leader and employed Deborah as his partner in the defeat of Israel’s enemies.

The story begins describing Israel’s backsliding behavior.  A repeated refrain, “Again Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord” leads off Judges 4.  Obedience would have simplified their lives but God does not leave them without an escape.  He even told Moses dozens of years earlier, “when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.” 

For eighty years Israel had enjoyed prosperity because of God’s blessings, but their success led to their failure.  They grew fat and lazy and prostituted themselves to foreign gods.  In this period of time, a Judge would arise to govern the people.  Deborah, a woman to whom God spoke, called Barak and issued God’s command to go and fight against his enemy Sisera.  Barak was willing to obey with the condition that Deborah go with him.  He had no doubt of his military strength, but he also recognized that Deborah had an ‘in’ with God and invited her to be his guide or military advisor.  

For Deborah, the command of God was enough.  God would fight for Israel.  But for Barak, he needed some reassurance and contrary to the custom of the day, he showed great humility toward Deborah and asked her to accompany him.  Even if it meant losing recognition in the eyes of the people?  Barak didn’t seem to care.  He knew he could lead men into battle, but he also knew that without God, victory would be denied.

A commentator said, “He could do nothing without her head, nor she without his hands; but both together made a complete deliverer, and effected a complete deliverance. The greatest and best are not self-sufficient, but need one another."

The battle ended swiftly, “Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left.”

What principles can we apply from this ancient story:

1. Israel had backslidden from their calling as God’s chosen people.  Deborah stood apart as a woman of God.  Are we willing to stand for high ethical and moral standards regardless of the prevailing moral conditions?
2. Have we experienced the consequences of success?  Have we grown soft, cocky or naive?
3. Will we be like Barak, willing to receive advice and guidance from a ‘Deborah’ who may not have the same experience or expertise?  
4. Are we willing to step aside when one more qualified is available?   
5. Have we ever been asked to part of something of which we know nothing  because our friend/boss values our opinion? Our influence, character, wisdom  go beyond our practical knowledge.  

“Then the people of the Lord

    went down to the city gates.

‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah!

    Wake up, wake up, break out in song!

Arise, Barak!

    Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.’

Judges 5:11b-12