A Woman Judge, Judges 4:6-9

This post concerns a fearful leader, Barak, and a woman judge, Deborah.

‘A Woman Judge,’ discusses how God used women to help liberate Israel.

After the death of Joshua, the people failed to instruct their children about the true God. So, they began to worship idols. A viscous cycle followed where God allowed their enemies to oppress them. Then, when they cried for help, God would send a series of judges to liberate them.

After Ehud, the second judge died, God allowed Jabin, a Canaanite king, to cruelly oppress them, Judges 4:1-2. “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan,”

Then, a women prophetess, Deborah, became the Israelite judge. She summoned Barak to be the army commander and assemble an army of ten-thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulon to route Sisera, the Canaanite leader.

But Barak hesitated, Judges 4:8. “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

Deborah responded that because of Barak’s reluctance the glory would go to a woman. They fought the battle and God gave them the victory.

When Sisera fled on foot, he came to the tent of Jael, a Kenite woman dwelling among the Israelites.

Jael invited Sisera to rest in her tent and gave him milk to drink.

Then, she acted, Judges 4:21. “But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple…”

Then, she met Barak and showed him Sisera’s dead body.

This first and decisive battle began a long series of battles involving all of Israel that destroyed the rule of Jabin, the Canaanite.

In the end, Jael received the glory of the Lord’s victory over Jabin.

Today, this story reminds us that women can show valor as both a judge and an unfearful servant of God.

So, what did we learn?

1.The Israelites again worshipped idols.

2.God allowed a Canaanite king to oppress them.

3.Two women participated in a victory provided by God over the Canaanites.

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