Judges 5:6-8 describes what life was like when Deborah was alive. The roads were abandoned because the Canaanites controlled the roads, the roads were dangerous, the areas where the Israelites lived were dangerous, and the Israelites were defenseless.
Scriptures:
Judges 4:4-8
Deborah, a prophetess, 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 came 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 the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure 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."
Judges 4:14
Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
In the first verse that we read, we learn that Deborah is a prophetess. A prophetess is a woman through whom God could speak; one who could never add any words to what God had sad, whatever God revealed. Reading that makes the role of a prophet (or prophetess, in this case) even more difficult. I guess I always had a more simplistic view of a prophet. Deborah was someone from whom the Israelites would seek out to have her judge their disputes. She was a woman after God's own heart. She knew that her life was His and not her own.
Deborah called Barak and told him a special message from God. Let's put this in perspective. Barak was to bring 10,000 men with him. However, those men did not have any weapons. Remember that Israel was defenseless. Sisera, on the other hand, had an army of 100,000 troops and 900 iron chariots. But God said that He would draw Sisera out (his city was a walled city like most in those days) and and give Sisera into Barak's hands.
It is interesting to note that Barak requested that Deborah accompany him in verse 8. Barak knew that Deborah was a woman of God. He knew that God would reveal the plan to Deborah. Thus, Barak needed his "strategist" with him. Deborah had the plan, but couldn't fight. Barak didn't know the plan, but could fight. Together they made the team God called together.
You can read Judges 4 for the whole story of the events (it's a pretty cool story). But let's focus on Deborah for a moment. Deborah grew up and lived in a time when the Israelites were worshipping other gods. Deborah didn't go along with the rest of her country. Instead, she knew God intimately and she showed others the way to Him. She was completely open to God's word. She made herself available to Him. How many times do we do that? Sundays? Deborah was open to God's word and His plan for her life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It was because of her faithfulness and openness that the Israelites were able to defeat Sisera's army. Wow! That is something to strive to attain.
"Victory is not my overcoming sin, or the devil, or the world. True, lasting victory is only found when Jesus overcomes me."
- Life Principles From the Women of the Bible
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for those times when I have forsaken You for other gods, the god of money, the god of pleasure, or the god of self. Make me sensitive to Your chastening hand. Help me run to You in my troubles and not from You. Thank You for loving me too much to let me stray. Help me to be quick to cry out to You. Most of all, thank You for the grace and mercy You show. Take Your place on the throne of my heart and show Your power through me. Empower me to be faithful and obedient. Amen.
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