Leadership: Deborah as a Leader

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 sit under the palm of Deborah in Ephraim. She had an unshakable faith in God. She is such a courageous person.

EVALUATION

Describe the personality of Deborah.

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 Isrealites 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 raise ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulum at Mount Tabor, that at River Kishon, he would engage Jabin’s forces. She gave him the assurance 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 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 battle field 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.

EVALUATION

Narrate the battle at River Kishon.

THE DEATH OF SISERA

Sisera took refuge in the house of Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite. She provided him with security and gave him milk instead of water. Sisera asked her to stay at the door and whoever might ask whether anybody was taking refuge there, she was to reply negatively. She covered him with a rug and he slept off due to fatigue as a result of the war. As he was sleeping, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg firmly into Sisera’ temple till it went into the ground as he lay asleep with great weakness. So, Sisera died. Later, Barak came in hot pursuit of Sisera, Jael showed him the body of Sisera with the tent peg in his temple. Thus, God subdued Jabin before His people Israel.

DEBORAH AS A LEADER

Deborah the prophetess was a wonderful and outstanding female leader in Israel.  She was rightly described as the “Mother of Israel” in order to recognize the outstanding leadership role that she played in Israel.  Apart from being a prophetess, she was also the wife of Lapidoth. She was a judge and the military heroine.  She always sat under the palm of Deborah in Ephraim.  Her faith in God was unshakable.  She was a woman of courage whom people like Barak looked up to.  Like Deborah, we have the history of women in West Africa who also made significant contributions towards the development of their countries.  In Nigeria we have Madam Tinubu of Lagos, Mrs Funmilayo Ramsone Kuti of Abeokuta, Magaret Ekpo of Calabar and Queen Amina of Zaria.  Madam Yaa Asantlewa was also famous in Ghana, while Mammey Yoko was outstanding in Sierra Leone.

What Deborah achieved in Israel should encourage our women to be focused and make similar contributions in their various countries.

EVALUATION

Describe the role of Jael in the death of Sisera.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. Describe how Deborah led her people to victory.
2. Mention various ways women are contributing to the development of the society today.
3. From Paul’s letter to  the Romans explain the term Justification?
4. State the conditions for its attainment.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3 by Martins. I Amaechi pages 36-38.

WEEKEND 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____.A. Nahum B. Nimrod C. Joel D.Sisera
3. The husband of Deborah was____.A. Lappidoth B.Abinadab C.Nimshi D.Ehud
4. The whole battle happened at river____.A.Kadesh B.Thames C.Nile D.Kishon
5. ____ killed Sisera. A.Lenny B. Jael C.Ruth D.Norah

THEORY

1. Describe the personality of Deborah.
2. Describe the role of Jael in the death of Sisera.