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BARAK & DEBORAH #1) How do we explain Deborah in light of God’s word? A) I want to start tonight by simply reading four verses without commenting until these verses are read. 1) Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD; I change not…” 2) Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” 3) 1 Timothy 2:12 “But I suffer not a women to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man…” 4) Judges 4:1”And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lipodoth, she judged Israel at that time.” 5) Is God’s word in conflict with itself? 6) How do we explain Deborah in light of the overwhelming number of scriptures that contradict women leading men? 7) The answer is simple, we allow God to explain through His word. 8) First of all we need to make it clear that God loves both men and women equally. B)
Galatians 3:28 In Christ both men and women are equally loved and
valued with
only one difference… 2) I want to emphasis that last point, because as people we don’t always operate according to Gods will or word. 3) That’s why things are as they are today because both men and women stray from Gods will and word. 4) It is very obvious throughout the scriptures that the roles of men and women are totally different. 5) Spiritually men and women are in the same standing before God but God has ordained that men be in the leadership role with women in the support role. 6) Genesis 2:18 Man was created first and then God decided to make a helper for man. 7) Genesis 2:20-23 Women were not only created for man but created from man by God. 8) 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 God has made it clear in His word that the roles of men and women are very different and obvious. 9) Genesis 3:16-17 Here we have the first role reversal and we can clearly see Gods displeasure. 10) Eve submitted to Satan rather than to the instructions of God and her husband… 11) Adam submitted to his wife rather than following the clear directions of God… 12) The consequences of both man and woman’s disobedience in their role reversal are clearly seen… 13) She would suffer in child bearing, her desire would be to her husband and He would rule over her. 14) The word rule in this verse means to govern or have dominion. 15) Man would forever suffer the fate of having to toil all the days of his life for the things that sustain life. 16) We can clearly see that God loves men and women equally and that they both possess different roles and responsibilities. C) So now lets quickly look at the rolls of men and women in the church. 1) 1 Timothy 2:11-14 The first thing I want to point out is that the women should learn. 2) Second women are not to teach or preach the word of God to men. 3) Titus 2:3-4 One of the rolls of a women is to teach the younger women. 4) 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 These verses are AGAIN in reference to women teaching or preaching to men. 5) Now lets look at what happens when men fail to lead, when they become lazy and complacent. 6) Isaiah 3:4&12 When men fail in their responsibilities both children and women will fill the void… 7) When these role reversals take place you can know for sure that things are not as God intends. 8) There are biblical examples to support these verses perfectly... 9) King Ahab failed to maintain his role of leadership and Jezebel took over completely. 10) 1 Kings 18:13-19 It was the failed leadership of Ahab that brought idolatry again into the nation… 11) It was his failure to lead as King that brought about the deaths of 50 of Gods prophets. 12) 1 Kings 19:1-2 It was the failed leadership of Ahab that helped to put a bounty on Elijah’s head. D) Don’t forget the verses we read in Isaiah about women and children ruling when men fail… 1) 2 Kings 21:1-2 Manasseh took the throne at just 12 years old, he reigned longer than any other king and was more wicked than any other. 2) Manasseh is the King who killed his own son as a sacrifice to the idol Molech… 3) 2 Kings 21:9 He is the king who lead Israel to do more wickedness than any of the surrounding idolatrous nation. 4) Isaiah 3:5 Isaiah was the prophet who God used during Manasseh reign… 5) Most believe it was Manasseh who had Isaiah executed. 6) Manasseh was placed into power at the age of 12 and became wicked because no man would put him in his place as a child. 7) This is how deprived things can become when men fail in the roll God has placed them. 8) It’s God perfect will for men to lead in government, home and church… 9) It’s also Gods perfect will for women to take the supporting roles in these areas, but not the leadership roles. #2) So what about Deborah? A) So back to our main question, how do we explain Deborah? 1) The answer is simple, it’s Gods perfect will for men to lead but when they will not God may choose to use a woman. 2) This is exactly what took place in the account of Deborah and Barak. 3) Before we look specifically at Deborah lets take a quick look at the Judges of Israel. 4) Judges 3:7-11 Othniel was set as a judge by God after the children of Israel had done evil and after they cried to God for help. 5) In verse 10-11 Othniel judged Israel and went to war and delivered Israel. 6) Othniel kept peace and purity during His forty years as judge. 7) Judges 3:12-13 After Othniel died the children of Israel did evil again and again they suffered under an enemy for 18 years. 8) Judges 3:15-16;21;26-30 Again Israel was doing evil and God called Ehud to deliver them and he brought them purity and peace for eighty years. 9) Judges 3:31 Shamgar is a judge who does the same as these first three. 10) Judges 6:1;7-17 We all know the account of Gideon he was the judge who delivered Israel from the Midianites but in the beginning completely lacked the faith to follow God. 11) We could go on and on with the Judges, every single account is the same… 12) Israel becomes wicked, are delivered into bondage, call out to God for deliverance, He sends a Judge who delivers them from evil and bondage to peace. 13) As soon as that Judge dies they quickly turn back to wickedness until God brings a Judge to remove them from wickedness. 14) Every Judge delivered the people from wickedness as soon as they became Judge with the exception of Deborah. B) Judges 4:1-4 So here we see Israel in the same old pattern, they are wicked, God gives them over to their enemy, now notice… 1) Judges 4:4 “…at that time.” Is literally translated “DURING THAT TIME”, during those 20 years of bondage. 2) All the other Judges delivered the people from bondage in a very short time. 3) The people existed in this state under Deborah as a judge for 20 years because the men wouldn’t take their role. 4) The blame lies squarely on the men of the day because of their failure to take the role God placed them in. 5) Judges 4:5 Notice also that the children of Israel came to her for judgment… 6) You wont find this with other Judges; they went to the people to lay judgment upon them for their ways. 7) Judges 4:6 However God does use Deborah to call the man that He has chosen to deliver Israel from bondage, BUT… 8) We see in Barak a glimpse of the sever problem of their day… 9) “…Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded…” God had been calling Barak but He wasn’t listening. 10) Judges 4:8 And here we see Barak’s lack of faith, he will not go to battle without Deborah. 11) And this lack of faith cost Barak… 12) Judges 4:9; 16-24 Jael is the one who kills Sisera. 13) But nonetheless Barak does what God called him to do… 14) Hebrews 11:32-33 It is Barak who is mentioned in the Hebrews chapter of faith, not Deborah and not Jael. 15) It’s Gods plan for men to be in the leadership position and when men refuse God may use a women to fill that void… 16) But that doesn’t mean that it is as God would have it. 17) It does mean that men have failed in their responsibilities. 18) Both men and women should know intimately our responsibilities according to Gods word. 19) When we know those responsibilities we should follow them… 20) The last thing we should do is trespass the boundaries that God
has set in place for both men and women.
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