IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DEBORAH

 "I Arose as a Mother in Israel"

DEBORAH looked around at the soldiers who were gathered atop Mount Tabor. It was touching to see them there.  In the morning light, she contemplated their bravery and the faith of their leader, Barak.  Though they were 10,000 strong, their faith and courage would face a great test this day.  They were going against a vicious foe, and they were outnumbered and poorly armed.  But they came here anyway-largely because of the encouragement of this one woman.

Picture Deborah, her garments rustling in the breeze as she and Barak looked out over a sweeping vista. Mount Tabor resembled a great cone with its top blunted.  It's flat summit commanded a view of the Plain of Esdraelon, some 1,300 feet (400m) below, which fanned out to the southwest. The Kishon River wound through the flat grassland, leading  out  to the Great Sea by Mount Carmel. The riverbed may have been dry that morning, but something else glistened on that broad plain. Sisera's forces -some 900 chariots, which may have been equipped with iron scythes protruding from the axles. Sisera intended to cut down the ill-equipped Israelites as if he were harvesting barley!

Deborah knew that Barak and his men were waiting for some word, some signal, from her.  Was she the only woman there?  What was it like for her to bear so much responsibility in such a  setting? Did she wonder what she was doing there? Evidently not! Jehovah, her God had told her to start this war; he had also revealed that he would use a woman to bring it to any end.  (Judges 4:5)  What can Deborah and these courageous fighters teach us about faith?

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DEBORAH - "Go and March to Mount Tabor"

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