Deborah as a Leader – SS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

DEBORAH AS A LEADER

Deborah was the only outstanding woman leader of the Israelites. She was described as the “Mother of Israel” in recognition of her outstanding leadership role in Israel. She was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, a judge and a military heroine. She always sits under the palm of Deborah in Ephraim. She had an unshakable faith in God. She is such a courageous person.

  THE FAITH AND COURAGE OF DEBORAH [ Judges 4: 1-24]

The Israelites did evil in the sight of God by going after the Canaanite gods. God handed them over to Jabin, the king of Canaan. The Canaanites oppressed them for twenty years. In their depression, the Israelites repented and cried to God to save them. God heard them and spoke to Deborah to deliver them. Deborah summoned Barak, the commander of the Israelite army and gave him the oracle of God. He told him to raise ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor, that at River Kishon, he would engage Jabin’s forces. She assured him that God would give Jabin’s forces into his hands.

 Deborah’s presence would assure him of God’s presence and help. Deborah told him that the Lord would sell Sisera, the army commander of Jabin, into the hands of a woman. Thus, the glory of the battle will be ascribed to a woman.

 Deborah and Barak with their troops went to the battlefield at Kadesh. From there, they marched to Mount Tabor. When Sisera held that Barak had assembled troops at Mount Tabor, he quickly took his nine hundred chariots and foot soldiers to the river Kishon to meet Barak. Barak was inspired by Deborah and attacked the Canaanites. The enemies were defeated. When Sisera saw the impending defeat, he alighted from his chariot and fled on foot. Barak’s army pursued the enemy troops.

ASSIGNMENT

1. At the time Deborah became a judge in Israel, she was a____. A.seer B. prophetess C.priestess D. medium
2. The captain of Jabin’s army was____.Nahum B. Nimrod  C. Joel D.Sisera
3. The husband of Deborah was____.Lappidoth B.Abinadab C.Nimshi D.Ehud
4. The whole battle happened at river____.A.Kadesh B.Thames C.Nile D.Kishon