Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

30 March 2024

Reading From Judges 3-5

 ^“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘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.’

Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’

‘Certainly I will go with you,’ said Deborah. ‘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.’ So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 

Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, ‘Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.’ So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

‘I’m thirsty,’ he said. ‘Please give me some water.’ She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

‘Stand in the doorway of the tent,’ he told her. ‘If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’

But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.”

–Judges 4:4-8, 17-22

     The Lord God spoke to His people through Deborah as his prophet.  Yahweh put her in authority over all of Israel.  This included men, women and children.  Her role, especially in the context of the ancient Middle East, conveys how God Almighty feels about women.  Both men and women were created in His image and have the capacity for leadership through the anointing and empowerment of the Spirit of the Living God.  Deborah’s authority came from God and the evidence of people coming to her in the shade of her palm tree shows that they acknowledged and consented to her leadership.  This incredible leader served as prophet, judge and military leader for the entire nation.

     Barak, the man in command of the army of Israel, refused to go into battle unless Deborah went with him.  She did so but the woman who would receive honor in this war was not herself, but this warrior named Jael.  What incredible courage and resourcefulness it took for Jael to not only lull Sisera to sleep but to choose her weapons as the tools used to construct her family’s portable home!  This brave tent dweller took out the enemy general with a tent stake and a hammer.  God can use anyone for His glory and He used Deborah and Jael in a mighty way.

     It is vital to our spiritual growth and health as individuals that we recognize and submit to spiritual leadership, whoever the Lord God may anoint.  Leadership of the Lord’s people is not based on seniority, outward appearance, gender, ethnicity, age or wealth, but rather the sovereign guidance of the Holy Spirit as He flows through individuals in order to accomplish the will of the Father on the Earth. 

     In the meridian of time, a wild man clothed in camel hair with a leather belt around his waist began preaching repentance and baptizing in the River Jordan.  He ate grasshoppers and honey and yet they came by the multitudes out into the dessert to hear this strange man and respond to his call.  Spiritual leadership can arise from the most unlikely sources, but regardless of our pre-conceived notions of authority, we must listen for the voice of the Most High through His servants and obey His Word.  Israel prospered under Deborah.  She was a magnificent leader.

“God, I pray that You continue to raise up leaders for Your people according to Your sovereign will.  Anoint them with Your Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus.  Give them the power and strength they need to lead.  Protect them from attack from within and without.  Galvanize their resolve.  Gird them up with determination.  Thank You for Your leadership through Your servants.  Amen.”

In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams. –Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:28

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.  –Acts 18:24-26

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.  –Acts 21:8-9