In the introduction to Miriam we’re not even given her name; Miriam is merely referred to as “his sister” – referring of course to Moses.

“And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him” (Exodus 2:4).

Like many who went before her and who would go after her, Miriam begins her life in obscurity. Perhaps you also are like Miriam. No one knows your name at this present moment. But God. He has plans for you nevertheless, just as he did for Miriam.

And though Miriam’s identity is not yet revealed, we see one aspect of her purpose already being revealed in her introduction. She “watches” over Moses to see which way the matter will go, and we aren’t told that her mother instructs her to do so. Could it be therefore, that Miriam makes the decision on her own to watch over Moses, perhaps even to intervene if the situation calls for it; it’s at least possible. Perhaps Moses’ mother could not bear to do so; perhaps it was all she could do to let Moses go and place the matter in God’s hands. Perhaps her part was the first part – to make the basket and place Moses inside of it.

But Miriam, whether instructed by her mother or not, watches over Moses. She has the heart to do so. I picture her as seven years old or no older than ten, but old enough to feel a mother’s heart toward her little brother she’s spent 90 days with, holding him, rocking him, whispering to him, keeping him quiet and pacified. She has formed a bond with him and she’s old enough to understand what’s at stake. And so she watches. To see which way the matter will go. And when Miriam sees Pharaoh’s daughter’s compassionate response when discovers such a treasure as a baby in a basket, she steps forth to do her part to orchestrate a good outcome for Moses:

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” (Exodus 3:7).

And once again, Miriam isn’t named; she’s simply referred to as “his sister.” The attention is on Moses in this pivotal moment of his young life. Not even Pharaoh’s daughter or Moses’ mother is yet named at this point. All attention is on Moses and his safety and well-being. It is in this extraordinary manner Miriam helps to secure Moses’ future. She is the youngest of three women who saves the infant child who will one day deliver a nation. In this manner Miriam has partnered with God’s purposes both for herself and for Moses.

And we know nothing of the heartbreak she and her mother endured after the final relinquishment of Moses to Pharaoh’s daughter after the days of his nursing were completed. Miriam’s life confirms for us that partnering with God’s plan is not an easy path. And nothing more of her childhood years is recorded for us. She lives in seeming obscurity, where God most often develops his chosen vessels. And God did not fail Miriam and He will not fail you either, for just as Moses was being developed for God’s purposes, so also was Miriam.

Because the next time we hear of Miriam things have greatly shifted. It’s immediately after the Israel has crossed through the miracle parting of the Red Sea. She bursts upon the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, but it’s not out of nowhere, it’s evident the women know well as they follow her lead without hesitation. And when we’re re-introduced to Miriam we’re introduced to her by name and with the added descriptor of “prophetess” attached to her name. Her time had come; she is known now as she unabashedly steps forward to the lead the women in celebration. Moses had led the children of Israel in song, but now Miriam leads the women exuberantly in song and dance:

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, Took the timbrel in her hand; and all the woman went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:20-21).

This is Miriam’s Song and along with the Song of Moses it’s the first instance of corporate worship recorded in the Bible, and it predates the tabernacle of David and the worship he instituted by close to 500 years. This is significant. The women break out their timbrels and dance and sing, following Miriam’s example, giving evidence that she has become a leader in the nation of Israel. Two simple verses, but such a powerful portrayal to the woman Miriam has become. And who’s to say that as Moses’ sister she is not still watching out for Moses, as she did when she was young? Aaron is a prophet and a mouthpiece to Moses (Exodus 7:2) and Miriam has her role as well in supporting Moses, and in this case it was to extend the worship Moses began. Together, she and her two brothers are a prophet trio – a “three-fold-prophet-cord” designed by God to be not easily broken and to bear the weight of leading a nation forward. Accordingly, each one has specific functions.

Each sibling however, has a moment in which they falter amongst a people who were continually faltering. Moses strikes the rock, rather than speak to it, Aaron has his golden calf moment, and Miriam’s moment manifests in the following way:

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also? And the LORD heard it” (Numbers 12:1-2).

And the LORD was not pleased and quickly called a meeting for the three siblings, speaking in such a way that all three heard His voice, “come out you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” And once He had them gathered the LORD called Aaron and Miriam to come forward and let them know in no uncertain terms of His displeasure. The LORD begins with

“Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream” (Numbers 12:6).

The Lord continues however, and makes a clear distinction between Moses and his two siblings:

“Not so with my servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with Him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”(Numbers 12:7-8).

And when the LORD finished speaking and His presence departed “suddenly Miriam became leprous, white a snow.” This is her consequence of speaking out against Moses. This is her one misstep recorded for our benefit – her failure to guard her heart against jealousy, against pride, against whatever the Lord saw in her heart. For this is what caused her to speak out against Moses, for we know that out of the issues of the heart the mouth speaks and the Lord takes these things seriously. It’s His desire is that we have clean hearts before Him. Did the Lord see pride in Miriam’s heart? Arrogance? Envy? Whatever He saw He was displeased. The conversation may have started because of the Ethiopian woman Moses had married, but the true heart of the matter quickly surfaced. Perhaps Miriam and Aaron fell into the trap of comparison which never produces any good thing. Whatever it was, by the words of her mouth Miriam was condemned. With Leprosy.

And here we see the seriousness of the matter of guarding our hearts. For although Miriam was healed through the prayer of Moses prompted by the plea (and confession) of Aaron who was quick to call it sin, she had to bear the leprosy for seven days before it was lifted. And during this time she was shut out of the camp. Giving her ample time to examine her heart and examine why she had rebelled against Moses. And because of her sin (as well as Aaron’s) all of Israel had to wait until they could journey forward again. It was a portrayal of the truth that the sin of a leader affects everyone served by that leader. It was a strong lesson indeed. And one we do well to heed:

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

At any rate, Miriam’s lack of guarding her heart was a serious matter with serious consequences. And these consequences arrived swiftly for her because to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). For in truth Miriam had been given much; she was one of three who was called to serve and lead a nation; and Moses could not Have fulfilled his assignment without the help of his two older siblings. Together, they were God’s chosen to lead a nation. Miriam’s role, in part, was to walk alongside of Moses, not unlike what she had done when she had watched from a distance when her mother had placed Moses in that basket. She was called to help protect Moses, not speak against him.

At any rate, Miriam faltered, but she recovered, and there is no other mis-step recorded of her. She learned the lesson, or perhaps multiple lessons in those seven days while she bored the disgrace of leprosy – to keep a clean heart, to honor and respect Moses’ position, and to stay true to what God had called her to do – lessons for all of us. Especially as we remember her humble beginnings and how she began in obscurity and was prepared in obscurity, one of God’s choicest methods. And her preparation prepared her well to be one of three leaders who served a nation, as evidenced by her final mention in Scripture:

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (Micah 6:4).

We’re introduced to this faith-filled woman in 2 Kings 4:8 as “a notable woman” and tradition has called her “the Shunammite women” after the town of Shunem she resided in. At any rate, this woman has eyes to see and bears witness in her spirit “to recognize those who labor among you and esteem them very highly for love sake” long before the Apostle Paul penned these words in 12 Thessalonians 5:12. And accordingly she persuades her husband that she might prepare and provide an upper room for “the holy man of God.” Her husband agrees and “as often as he passes by” Elisha has a place to stay which affords his basic needs are met. It is in this manner she honors the prophet Elisha.

“And it happened one day” that Elisha wants to return the favor of all the care she has provided - A portrayal of the truth: “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 1-0:41) as a prophet’s reward is not limited to one manifestation. Therefore, Elisha asks her “what can I do for you?” She insists she’s fine, she hasn’t been looking for personal gain, she simply wants to honor the man of God, as it was in her hands to do so. But Elisha persists and asks his servant “what then is to be done for her?” It is here that Gehazi brings the matter to light that she has no son, and her husband is old. Elisha accordingly wastes no time and calls for her and declares, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” “Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant” is her immediate response; in other words, “don’t play with me” as she’s already faced hope deferred and has no desire to open that door again.

The prophet has spoken however, and she conceives and bears a son according to the appointed time. “And the child grew” is all we’re told of the child until it’s recorded on that fateful day, “now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, ‘my head, my head!’” And if you’re well versed with the story, you know the father commanded his servant, “Carry him home to his mother” and when the command was carried out, this child “sat on her knees till noon, and then died.”

Now here’s where the story gets intriguing. Here’s where this women exemplifies and extraordinary level of faith and courage in an extreme situation – the worst situation that can befall any parent. She doesn’t erupt into hysterics, she doesn’t bewail the fact that her son is dead, and she doesn’t adopt the posture I would imagine for one whose only child has just died. In fact, I find her heart posture extraordinary. Because what she does next is nothing less than a “full-on” expression of faith as she moves into action in an extraordinarily self-controlled manner. She takes her son to the upper room – the same place where the prophet spoke the boy’s life into existence. She places her boy on Elisha’s bed, closes the door, and calls for her husband to send one of the young men and a donkey so that she can “run to the man of God and come back.” When he husband asks “why?” she simply replies “it is well.”

This is an extraordinary confession of faith, both mind-boggling and heart-stirring. This mighty woman of God refuses to speak a single negative word. In the midst of the worst horror that could befall any parent, she simply declares “it is well.” And she repeats these words when Elisha sees her approaching and sends his servant Gehazi to inquire of her family’s well-being. She maintains her confession and refuses to give a negative report. Instead, she holds fast to a supernatural faith, and limits herself to the three words she’s already spoken, “it is well.”

This is an astounding level of self-control; the Shunammite woman will say no more until she has a face-to-face with the man of God who prophesied her son’s birth. Then and only then will she pour out her heart. She’s had ample time to choose her words and what she will say to Elisha, and she does indeed have choice words when she she falls at his feet: “Did I ask for a son of my lord?” she begins, “Did I not say, ‘do not deceive me?’” in a mix of desperation and perhaps also righteous anger, as she is resolved to have a resolution to the matter.

And although Elisha tries to pass of the task at hand to his servant Gehazi, this mighty woman of God will have none of it – “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And so he arose and followed her. “I will not leave you” - another “I will” confession of her mouth, but this one of a different flavor. She is resolved to get what she needs from the man of God, very much like the resolve Elisha exercised in staying by Elijah’s side when he was intent on receiving the (conditional) double-portion he’d asked for. In like manner, the Shunammite woman is determined to get what she desires – a better resolution for her son than her current reality. She simply will not abide her current reality, her faith will not allow for it. She has experienced the hand of God upon her life, her very womb, and she fully expects the hand of God to enter into her situation. She is a woman of faith whose example is a mighty one, particularly in the way she chooses the words she will speak.

Accordingly, she leads the way to where her child lies, in the very upper room in which he was conceived through the words of the prophet. Gehazi has gone ahead, but he is unsuccessful in his attempt to revive the child even though he took the very staff Elisha handed to him and placed it upon the child. It is not his assignment to revive this, it is Elisha’s. So Elisha goes into his secret place and closes the door behind Him, and oh what things God will accomplish in the secret place! Elisha stretches himself upon the child, imparting to him the resurrection life he carries (and this life Elisha carries - even in his bones after he dies - will later resurrect a man thrown into the grave in which he was buried (2 Kings 13:2-21). Accordingly therefore, the child’s body begins to warm, receptive to the resurrection life Elisha carries. Elisha must persevere however, just as his mentor Elijah had to do when he prayed for rain seven times; and when he stretches himself upon the child a second time, the child revives fully with a seven-fold sneeze. (Seven – the number of completion!)

And when our mighty woman of God is summoned she beholds her son, alive. It is the fruition of her words insistently and perhaps also stubbornly spoken, as faith must sometimes speak. “It is well” is now fully manifested, and for this she falls at the feet of the prophet. She believed, and now she has received. Glory to God! He sees the desires of our hearts! And what this Shunammite woman models for us is the power of our confession; the power of our faith held aloft for God to behold. For by our words we are either justified or condemned (Matthew 12:37) and the choice is always ours to speak. What will be your confession today? Will you choose the words that speak and impart life? And will you choose the words that cause light to shine on your ways? - The very light our Creator created on day one of creation when He proclaimed “Light, be!” The is one of the lessons learned from the Shunammite women. For those who have ears to hear.

Meditative Scripture:

“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” Job 22:28

Jael – A Mistress of Hospitality

“Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed is she among women in tents. He asked for water, she gave him milk; she brought out cream in a lordly bowl.”

Here Jael is praised in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5) and what strikes me is how she so easily disarmed Sisera and how he so easily underestimated her.

For we’re told “there was peace between Jabin King of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite” (Judges 4:17) and apparently Sisera couldn’t fathom that Jael would have thoughts and opinions of her own and who would recognize Jabin and his commander Sisera as enemies and not ones to make peace with, as had her husband.

And she played her part well as “the wife of Heber” and a “women in a tent” – unassuming, kind, non-threatening, hospitable. Who could possibly suspect her hidden motives? Certainly not Sisera. And intriguingly, it was her hospitality that disarmed him enough to let down his guard and trust her – the precursor to Sisera’s literal end as also recorded in the Song of Deborah:

She stretched her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the workman’s hammer; she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, she split and struck through his temple.

This was no light “maidenly” blow. Jael was well-versed with her chosen weapons, what she already and always had at hand, for this is how the Lord most often chooses to do a thing. And so Jael used the most unsuspecting of tools - her wit and her hospitality (as did Esther), before she picked up her most deadly tool to take down not just a man, but a man who commanded an army.

And Oh how God always uses the unsuspecting things, even what man would call the foolish things, to accomplish His purposes. And what disgrace Sisera would have born had he not lacked awareness. For if you recall, the evil man Abimelech requested his aid to thrust him through with a sword after a “certain woman” dropped a millstone on his head, saying, “lest men say of me, ‘a woman killed him.’”

And so it happened that a tent-dwelling woman struck the final blow for a defeat so sound that “the land had rest for forty years.”

And Judges 4 our offers further details and insight into Jael’s triumph over Sisera. For although Sisera was fleeing toward the tent of Jael, she didn’t wait for his approach and by implication his request or demand. She met him head on; she went out to meet him and gave the invitation- or was it an enticement? – “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside and do not fear.”

She begins her scheme by calling him Lord! How utterly brilliant! – the facade of respect for one’s enemy in order to scope out the enemy’s weak spot, to come in “under the radar” as it were. And then Jael continues her plot to make Jael feel safe:

And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket. Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.”

And here’ Sisera’s weakness fully reveals itself; he’s tired from the battle, even exhausted. However, I’m intrigued by Sisera’s politeness, by his request rather than demand for water. But Jael one-ups him on politeness:

So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him.

And he said to her, “stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you and says, “Is any man here?” you shall say, ‘No.’”

Here we have hospitality at its finest – milk, not water as the ploy continues. And here Sisera makes his first command, but Jael is likely already forming her game plan; she needs no commands, and Sisera’s fatal mistake is expecting Jael will follow his game plan and keep watch for him. Jael however, allows Sisera to go to rest with his expectations and the trust she has easily gained from him. And this is the end of Sisera. He never knew what hit him. Literally. Because Jael wasn’t a solider, because also she was not a man, Sisera lays his guard down as he lays himself down. Never to rise again.

Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drive the tent peg into his , and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

“So he died” we are told matter-of-factly, almost anti-climactically. And Jael continues most matter-of-factly when Barak catches up in his pursuit of Sisera:

Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.”

No fanfare, no heroic speaking despite a feat most heroic. And thus what little we know of Jael concludes. We don’t even know if she was celebrated outside of the Song of Deborah, but we do know this: She is the only person recorded to have tent-pegged a man to his death. Additionally, we can’t even say she rose to the occasion when the situation presented itself -- Because she is the one who largely orchestrated the situation!

Long live the spirit of Jael! Women of strength – arise!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heat greatly rejoices. Psalm 28:7

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at the time. Judges 4:4

Here we have the Hebrew word (H802) “Ishshah ”(ish-shaw) translated as “wife” in this verse. It is “ishshah” in the singular and “nashiym” (naw-sheem) in the plural. It’s the derivative and the feminine form of iysh (eesh) referring to a man as an individual or a male person. It appears 780x in Scripture, alternately translated as “wife” “woman” or “female” depending on the context.

“Ishshah” however, is also translated as “woman.” According to the law of first mention, here’s the first use of the word:

Then the rib which the Lord God has taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:22-23

Admittedly, this word “ishah” seems to be translated in equal measure as either wife or woman, but here are other verses in which “ishshah is translated as woman or even female, not wife.

Genesis 3:1,2,4,6 used to recount the serpent speaking to Eve

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… Genesis 3:6

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, an male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female… Genesis 7:2

And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.” Genesis 12:11

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them.

Exodus 1:19

And the woman conceived (she was a wife), an bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a good child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor…articles of silver, articles of gold,, and clothing….

Exodus 3:22

And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight…

Esther 2:17

A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain riches. Proverbs 11:16

Every wise woman builds her house…Proverbs 14:1

For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God. Isaiah 54:6

Now we come to the word “lappidoth” in Judges 4:4, referring to Deborah as the wife of “Lappidoth.” It’s most interesting to note that it’s used only one time in Scripture (!)

Lappiydoth Hebrew H3940 (lap-pee-doth): A feminine plural of H3940. It gets more interesting. The word that refers to a man Deborah is married to is actually a feminine plural of another word. Let’s take another look at the word it’s derived from:

Lappiyd: To shine; a flambeau, lamp or flam: - (fire-) brand, (burning) lamp, lightning, torch

And this word is used only 14 x in Scripture, which makes it easier to examine. Let’s take a look at its 14 uses:

…When the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch (lamp in KJ) that passed between those pieces. Genesis 15:17

(speaking of the covenant God initiated with Abram)

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes (lightnings in KJ) the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Exodus 20:18 (A description of God’s presence)

The he (Gideon) divided the three hundred men into three companies & he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers and torches (lamps in KJ) inside the pitchers.

Judges 7:16

Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers - they held the torches (lamps in KJ) in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing – and they cried, “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” Judges 7:20

Then Samson went and caught 33 foxes; and he took torches (firebrands in KJ) turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.

When he had set the torches (brands in KJ) on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain… Judges 15:4,5

A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; it is made ready for those whose feet slip. Job 12:5

Out of His mouth go burning lights (burning lamps in KJ); sparks of fire shoot/leap out.

God speaking to Job of Leviathan. Job 41:19

For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. Isaiah 62:1

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches (lamps in KJ) going back and forth among the living creatures…

Ezekiel 1:13

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place - Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:6

So the word Lapiydoth is used only once in Scripture, and Deborah’s husband is mentioned only once. There is also no mention of Deborah having any children. And the one time Deborah is mentioned as a mother is in Judges 5 when Deborah declares:

Village life cease, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7

And just as women can be spiritual mothers rather than biological mothers, so too, could Deborah have been a spiritual mother to a nation? Could it be that Deborah was able to do what she did because she wasn’t a wife and a mother? Could it be a sacrifice she had to make? Foregoing marriage and motherhood? At any rate, there is strong enough evidence that Deborah was not a wife to Lappiydoth, not a wife to anyone, for the cost to her family would have been too great to carry the weight of the rulership of a nation. It should be no surprise then that Brian Simmons, translates Judges 4:4 in The Passion Translation, as follows:

God raised up Deborah to lead Israel as a champion-deliver. She was a prophetess and a fiery woman. Judges 4:4 TPT

And in TPT notes, Simmons refers to Deborah as a “woman of many torches” and a

“woman of lightning flashes.”

One thing is conclusive; God’s word is a light and Deborah carried God’s word for a nation. And

in the same vein, Barak’s name means “lightning bolt.” It’s the Hebrew word used for lightning in a verse we’ve already looked at:

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

The Hebrew word (H1300) is Baraq (baw-rawk): Lightining; by analogy a gleam; concretely a flashing sword: - bright, glitter (ing), sword) lightning. (Direct from Strongs)

In a sense, Deborah and Barak were two lights for the Lord, Barak’s name representing the sword of the Lord who is mighty in battle and goes to war on our behalf. Once more, their story portrays the power of men and women working together without envy, intimidation, or strife. Equal honor and respect for one another and mutual submission, preferring and esteeming one another as we are admonished:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

In this sense, Deborah and Barak are a foreshadowing picture of the church. They stand together, they believe God together, and they go to battle together. Each one fulfilling their role and function, complementing and strengthening each other, just as the roles of pastor and prophet or apostle and prophet complement each other in the church world, when all five offices are in full operation.

But the angel said to Him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:13

Luke is the only gospel to record Elizabeth’s story, and in this first mention of her Luke includes the mention of Zacharias’ prayers for Elizabeth to conceive, giving strong evidence of the long years he prayed and the long years he and Elizabeth endured together, childless. We can only imagine the depths of Elizabeth’s disappointment and long-suffering in waiting for a child that never came as her life was measured out month by month by month. But then comes this day of breakthrough, yet unknown to Elizabeth and peculiar in the use of language. For Gabriel doesn’t say, “your prayers ‘have been’ heard.” Rather, he speaks in the present tense – “your prayer is heard.” This may merely reflect the Hebrew language use of ongoing present tense, as later in the New Testament, translated from the Greek, it’s recorded/translated into English that an angel spoke to Ananias saying “your prayer has been heard, but it may also signify Zacharias’ faith to continue to pray and God’s ever-present work in our lives, as He is always doing a present work in our lives. At any rate we cannot possibly imagine the grief Elizabeth endured in the years of her ongoing barrenness.

And when Gabriel delivers the news to Zacharias, it’s while he’s performing his priestly duties, for Elizabeth’s long-awaited son would also be a priest, but a priest who would usher in a new order. And the news doesn’t end with the announcement that Elizabeth would bear a son, but continues with an all-encompassing prophetic word spoken over the life of this as-of-yet unconceived child, whom the Lord Himself names as John. For this is the child who would be born, this is the prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord. This prophet would not perform a single miracle, yet his very life would be the miracle. This angel’s prophecy spoke of this child’s entire life and mission on earth and includes the detail that John will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time of his mother’s womb.

But Zacharias, though he had prayed fervently and faithfully, reverts back to human wisdom and understanding when he hears the glorious and heavenly news and reminds the angel of the “fact” – that he is an old man and his wife Elizabeth is advanced in years, instead of simply rejoicing in the good tidings the angel has brought to him. Zacharias also makes the mistake of asking the angel, “How shall I ‘know’ this?” - Also meaning “How shall I ‘understand’ this? This angers the angel, for some things, particularly the Word of the Lord, are not always to be understood, but rather to be received and acted upon. Accordingly, the angel now announces himself as Gabriel “who stands in the presence of God and who was sent to you to bring you these glad tidings.” Further highlighting the principle that God requires our obedience whether or not we have an understanding, and that obedience must come first. Gabriel now continues with a hard word:

But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time. Luke 1:20

Let this serve as a reminder of the importance of coming into agreement with the Lord of the Lord, rather than opposing or questioning it, as Zacharias has done. For just as Gabriel has spoken, Zacharias is made mute. He fulfills the number of days of his priestly service, all the while mute, then returns home, mute. But of course Zachariah is able to communicate

with the woman he’s spent the majority of his life with and Elizabeth is equally able to understand the communication of the man she’s known since her youth. And as Elizabeth receives this astounding news that she will conceive a child, it’s likely she thinks of another woman – Sara - who also received news from an angel that she would conceive and bear a son in her old age. And perhaps this is what kept Elizabeth’s and Zacharias’ hope alive all through their years together - knowing and believing that what God accomplished once He could do again. At any rate, Gabriel’s prophecy set certain things in motion in their marriage union. Their physical intimacy would now likely be invigorated with a new level of excitement, hope, and perhaps also vigor. For in the fulness of time, God’s perfect time, Elizabeth conceives. It’s a time of rejoicing, but the word of the Lord is just beginning to take form. There is more joy yet to come.

For in six month’s time, Mary comes to visit. And we aren’t told the means of Elizabeth’s knowing or the moment of her knowing, but she knows. Perhaps she knew by revelation, but we’re only told that that Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb upon Mary’s greeting, and that she is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies about Mary’s baby. In essence, Elizabeth recognizes who Jesus is in Mary’s womb, one of the few chosen few who have this privilege of knowing. Others would recognize Jesus is as a baby, but Elizabeth recognizes who He is while he’s yet unborn. And this speaks powerfully to the sanctity of life in a mother’s womb, as well as to identity, even in the womb.

And the two women spend three months together, marveling at the Lord’s hand upon them as Elizabeth is the only one who can fully understand Mary’s secret. As the elder with more life experience, we can only imagine the conversations these two had; the catching up on family affairs and the comfort and counsel Elizabeth provides for Mary. And in the fulness of time, after Mary returns home, Elizabeth brings forth her son and neighbors and relative rejoice with her. Oh what care and attention this long-awaited child must have received from the hands of Elizabeth. Paradoxically however, God would use the care and the doting John would receive from his mother Elizabeth to prepare him for a life in the wilderness that would not be filled with comfort. This is the way the Lord chose it to be.

Then came the eighth day – the time for Elizabeth’ baby to be circumcised. And here is yet another sign that this baby will be different. And that his life will not be one that follows custom. For according to custom Elizabeth’s baby will be named Zacharias, after his father, but Elizabeth gently but firmly responds, “No, he shall be called John.” She is the one who has the honor to announce the baby’s identity and name. Friends and family are bewildered, but when Elizabeth looks to Zacharias to confirm this break with tradition, John takes a tablet and settles the issue as he writes, “His name is John.” And now that Zacharias comes into public agreement with the word of the Lord spoken through the Angel Gabriel (he’s had ample time to come into private agreement), now is the moment his tongue is finally loosed. Now he too can openly rejoice with Elizabeth and others, and now at last he too is filled with the Holy Spirit.

It’s likely Elizabeth continued to celebrate, along with her husband, in the Lord’s goodness to remember her in her old age and to take away her reproach from among the people, as she herself mentions. It’s also likely she rejoiced as Sara had rejoiced - that nothing is too hard for the Lord. This is Elizabeth’s starting point as she raises the baby who will become the boy who will become the prophet who readies the people to make way for the Lord - the prophet who closes out an old chapter in Israel’s history and ushers in a new one. We can only imagine the wisdom with which Elizabeth, along with her husband, raised their long-awaited, long-hoped for, and long-prayed for son.

For Elizabeth was a woman of God’s choosing, a woman of priestly linage who lived a set apart life and who would model this set apart lifestyle for her son. A woman who had served faithfully in her own sphere as her husband served in his, to bear this fore-running child who would prepare the way for Her Lord. A woman who had nearly nine months to ponder the awesome hand of the Lord upon her life. A woman who would no doubt give testimony all of her days and impart the knowledge of the Lord to her son in his formative years. This is the woman God chose for such an unusual assignment.

We don’t know the number of Elizabeth’s days, as after this first chapter of Luke we don’t hear her name mentioned again. But we do know she was a woman devoted and consecrated to God. And it’s likely Elizabeth was spared the heart-ache of seeing her son’s latter days, and therefore rejoiced all the number of her days.

Scriptures For Reflection

For with God, nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37

For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass. Ezekiel 12:25

Thank you for reading. Truth is my passion and writing is my Kingdom business.

We’re going to hit the ground running for part two:

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at the time. Judges 4:4

Here we have the Hebrew word (H802) “Ishshah ”(ish-shaw) translated as “wife” in this verse. It is “ishshah” in the singular and “nashiym” (naw-sheem) in the plural. It’s the derivative and the feminine form of iysh (eesh) referring to a man as an individual or a male person. It appears 780x in Scripture, alternately translated as “wife” “woman” or “female” depending on the context.

“Ishshah” however, is also translated as “woman.” According to the law of first mention, here’s the first use of the word:

Then the rib which the Lord God has taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:22-23

Admittedly, this word “ishah” seems to be translated in equal measure as either wife or woman, but here are other verses in which “ishshah is translated as woman or even female, not wife.

Genesis 3:1,2,4,6 used to recount the serpent speaking to Eve

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… Genesis 3:6

You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, an male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female… Genesis 7:2

And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.” Genesis 12:11

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them. Exodus 1:19

And the woman conceived (she was a wife), an bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a good child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor…articles of silver, articles of gold,, and clothing…. Exodus 3:22

And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight…Esther 2:17

A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain riches. Proverbs 11:16

Every wise woman builds her house…Proverbs 14:1

For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God. Isaiah 54:6

Now we come to the word “lappidoth” in Judges 4:4, referring to Deborah as the wife of “Lappidoth.” It’s most interesting to note that it’s used only one time in Scripture (!)

Lappiydoth Hebrew H3940 (lap-pee-doth): A feminine plural of H3940. It gets more interesting. The word that refers to a man Deborah is married to is actually a feminine plural of another word. Let’s take another look at the word it’s derived from:

Lappiyd: To shine; a flambeau, lamp or flam: - (fire-) brand, (burning) lamp, lightning, torch

And this word is used only 14 x in Scripture, which makes it easier to examine. Let’s take a look at its 14 uses:

…When the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch (lamp in KJ) that passed between those pieces. Genesis 15:17

(speaking of the covenant God initiated with Abram)

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes (lightnings in KJ) the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Exodus 20:18 (A description of God’s presence)

The he (Gideon) divided the three hundred men into three companies & he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers and torches (lamps in KJ) inside the pitchers. Judges 7:16

Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers - they held the torches (lamps in KJ) in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing – and they cried, “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” Judges 7:20

Then Samson went and caught 33 foxes; and he took torches (firebrands in KJ) turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.

When he had set the torches (brands in KJ) on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain… Judges 15:4,5

A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; it is made ready for those whose feet slip. Job 12:5

Out of His mouth go burning lights (burning lamps in KJ); sparks of fire shoot/leap out.

God speaking to Job of Leviathan. Job 41:19

For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. Isaiah 62:1

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches (lamps in KJ) going back and forth among the living creatures…Ezekiel 1:13

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place - Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:6

So the word Lapiydoth is used only once in Scripture, and Deborah’s husband is mentioned only once. There is also no mention of Deborah having any children. And the one time Deborah is mentioned as a mother is in Judges 5 when Deborah declares:

Village life cease, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7

And just as women can be spiritual mothers rather than biological mothers, so too, could Deborah have been a spiritual mother to a nation? Could it be that Deborah could only do what she did because she wasn’t a wife and a mother? Could it be a sacrifice she had to make? Foregoing marriage and motherhood? At any rate, there is strong enough evidence that Deborah was not a wife to Lappiydoth, not a wife to anyone, for the cost to her family would have been too great to carry the weight of the rulership of a nation. It should be no surprise then that Brian Simmons, translates Judges 4:4 in The Passion Translation, as follows:

God raised up Deborah to lead Israel as a champion-deliver. She was a prophetess and a fiery woman. Judges 4:4 TPT

And in TPT notes, Simmons refers to Deborah as a “woman of many torches” and a “woman of lightning flashes.”

One thing is conclusive; God’s word is a light and Deborah carried God’s word for a nation. And in the same vein, Barak’s name means “lightning bolt.” It’s the Hebrew word used for lightning in a verse we’ve already looked at:

His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches (lamps in KJ) of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color… Daniel 10:6

The Hebrew word (H1300) is Baraq (baw-rawk): Lightining; by analogy a gleam; concretely a flashing sword: - bright, glitter (ing), sword) lightning. (Direct from Strongs)

In a sense, Deborah and Barak were two lights for the Lord, Barak’s name representing the sword of the Lord who is mighty in battle and goes to war on our behalf. Once more, their story portrays the power of men and women working together without envy, intimidation, or strife. Equal honor and respect for one another and mutual submission, preferring and esteeming one another as we are admonished:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

In this sense, Deborah and Barak are a a foreshadowing picture of the church. They stand together, they believe God together, and they go to battle together. Each one fulfilling their role and function, complementing and strengthening each other, just as a the roles of pastor and prophet or apostle and prophet complement each other in the church world today, when all five offices are in full operation regardless of gender.

First, Deborah’s name:

Deborah comes from the Hebrew word D’vorah, meaning “Bee” and symbolizes industriousness, sweetness, and leadership.

*Like a bee pulls nectar from a flower to create something beneficial, Deborah pulled from Barak (the necessary actions) to secure victory for a nation that gave the land rest 40 years.

* Like a bee, Deborah was highly productive in her leadership

* Bees are also orderly; through orderly motion they exhibit clear communication; Deborah exhibited this same level of clear communication required of a successful leader.

We’ll save “Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lapidoth” (Judges 4:4) for a secondary lesson, and start with the proceeding verse to view Deborah’s wide array of virtues and leadership traits.

v5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Positioned authority: Deborah sat under a palm tree and palms signify praising God and joyful victory - think of Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem in which the people waved palm branches. And from Brian Simmon’s Passion Translation notes: “Deborah ruled while sitting under the realm of victory and prophetic revelation.” Basically, Deborah positioned herself in a place of victory, and ruled from that seat of authority. Palms also represent righteousness and strength, further signifying Deborah ruled from this place of strength. Also, it was the “palm of Deborah” - an acknowledgement of the level of authority she carried. Deborah also sat in a high place, God’s high place, literally and spiritually, as Ramah means “high place” and Bethel means “house of God.” Additionally, anyone who approached her had to be willing to come up high in order to meet with her. This would sift out people coming to her for trivial or “low” matters.

A sidenote: Palms are significant enough to be mentioned in 25x in Scripture and they also represent a place of refuge, as portrayed in Exodus 15:27, the seventy palms and twelve wells.

v6-7 Then she sent and called for Barak…and said to him, ‘Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten-thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun. ‘and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand?

Communication Wisdom: Here we see Deborah as a leader with the recognized authority to call for someone to come to her. This is the authority she carries as a prophet; she doesn’t submit to the demands of the people – the people don’t decide when she will give a word or where and when she will come and go. Deborah, in partnership with the Lord decides when and how to give a word. She operates wisely in this manner. Deborah also employs wisdom in her interaction with Barak. She doesn’t command Barak what to do; rather she makes it clear it is the Lord who is giving the command. But her underlying wisdom is that she begins with a question for Barak; she give him room to decide the matter for himself. She doesn’t boast in her authority and she doesn’t lord it over him. (This would imply Deborah doesn’t lord her authority over anyone.) Deborah understands Barak himself operates in a position of authority and she shows respect for his authority. At any rate, it’s the prophetic word of the Lord spoken through the mouth of Deborah. Victory is assured. The Lord has spoken it. How will Barak respond?

v8-10 And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kadesh.

Bravery and Courage: Here we see an interesting interaction between a strong man and a strong woman, and how they choose to work together. Barak doesn’t hesitate to state the terms of his engagement. And to quote the Jerusalem Bible once again: “If you come with me, I will go; if you will not come I will not go, for I do not know how to choose the day when the angel of Yahweh will grant me success” (v8). Here we see Barak’s forthright acknowledgment of Deborah as a prophet who hears clearly the word of the Lord. He recognizes the anointing and the mantle on Deborah’s life and decides to partner with it. Both Deborah and Barak are vessels God will use to accomplish the task He has set before them. Barak is not a coward. He is mentioned in Hebrews 11 and coward’s don’t sit in the “hall of faith.” And when Deborah reminds Barak “there will be no glory for you” isn’t it the Lord who deserves all the glory anyway? Deborah is merely fore-telling - stating the terms of the outcome (the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman) and it appears Barak is not concerned about who gets the glory. Ultimately, the glory belongs to the Lord and it’s victory that’s most important to the heart of a warrior.

Honored Interaction with Men: “Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kadesh.” It’s worth noting - “Kadesh” means holy, sacred, pure, consecrated or set apart.” Together, Deborah and Barak embarked together toward a holy place, the preparatory place before the battle began. Together, they entrusted their lives to the Lord and His word. Together, they honored the Lord and in doing so they honored one another. This is a picture of men and women walking side by side together in the body of Christ, and what can be accomplished walking together in purpose and like-mindedness. (Victory is assured)

v10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kadesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.

A Warrior’s Heart: Ten thousand men are now mustered to Kadesh, the holy place, and it’s under the leadership of Barak. This is the significance of men like Barak. When one Barak rises up, ten thousand men rise up with him. But it’s Deborah and Barak who have set the standard. It’s Deborah and Barak who are leading the way. And all are soldiers, but not all are warriors. Warriors are those willing to go, even to run, to the front lines of a battle. Deborah, as well as Barak, is a warrior.

v14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

Prophetic timing: This is the moment Barak knew Deborah would discern. Barak had the willingness, but he knew Deborah’s discernment was a key strategy needed for the battle. Knowing the moment when it’s time to move, time to take action, time to advance. It’s always best to stay in timing with the Lord. We need both the word of the Lord and the timing of the Lord. Deborah carried both.

Leads with courage: And Deborah reminds Barak that victory is assured. Her prophetic word infuses courage in all who hear her speak. She right there with the men when she gives the command. She’s leading with courage. In addition, The LORD has had them positioned in Mount Tabor, a high place, a vantage point with full view of the enemy, but more important the LORD is with them; He has spoken; He will go before them and secure their steps. Mount Tabor is a strategic place of God’s choosing; it’s the place where Jesus will later be transfigured

v15-17 And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army…and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

God’s word through Deborah comes to pass: It’s a supernatural victory in which Barak and his men fight with supernatural strength and courage combined with the LORD’s hand in the battle. Further details our outlined in the Song of Deborah (including Jael’s portion in the story which will be addressed in her own chapter). Interestingly the recounting of this victory is described as the song of Deborah and Barak in the New Jerusalem Bible) and here are some excerpts from that victory song in Judges 5:

v7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, until I Deborah, arose as a Mother in Israel.

A Mother’s Heart: Deborah was already a prophetess and a judge, but something shifted when she rose up as a Mother in her nation. It was her mother’s heart that instigated her actions as a warrior. For it’s the mothers who are willing to go to battle on behalf of their children. We see this today with the mama bear mothers willing to give testimony and testify in regard to the transgender nonsense going on in the school (and other areas of public discourse) and of course Fathers as well who are willing to fight for the sake of their children. As the word says, we have many teachers, but we don’t have many Fathers (1 Corinthians 4:15) – and this of course includes the Mothers – mothers who instruct as well as nurture.

v9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the Lord!

Honors the Lord: Here we see Deborah’s heart exulting. And she honors the Lord, exclaiming, “bless the Lord.” And she exults because the people who offer themselves to the Lord and His purposes will be blessed. These are the people the Lord is looking for. These are the people He will use. This includes you. When you say “Yes” when God asks “Will you?” When you say, “Here am I” when the Lord calls you, you will be blessed. How will you respond?

v15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; as Issachar so was Barak sent into the valley under his command; among the divisions of Rueben there were great resolves of heart.

Invited/Invoked Loyalty: Deborah’s leadership style invited loyalty amongst the men of Issachar. Because of her leadership there was faithful backing and immediate action amongst these men. And there were great resolve of heart amongst the tribe of Rueben.

Resolve: Fixed purpose of mind; settled resolution (Webster’s 1828 app)

Will you be resolved when the Lord gives the command? Resolved to obey what He says to do? Resolved to obtain victory? It is a virtue that can be developed.

v20-21 They fought from the heavens; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away…

Trust in God: Here we see the LORD’s hand in the battle, the LORD’s promise fulfilled that He would fight for them as they were willing to muster troops to go and fight against Jabin’s army. This required great levels of trust. More details are recorded earlier in this Song of Deborah:

V5-6 Lord, when you went out form Seir, when you marched form the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens poured, the clouds also poured water; the mountains gushed before the LORD, the Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.

Remembering God’s Goodness/Scribing: The song is scribed by Deborah and Barak, in order to recount and remember, for themselves and those who would come after. Let’s also look at what’s written - The earth trembled. This sounds like an earthquake. And waters were released from the heavens in such abundance that the River Kishon flooded its banks – causing the chariots of the enemy to become stuck in their tracks, ineffective for the battle. This caused Sisera to flee from his chariot! And countless other warriors! Indeed nothing is too hard for the Lord! He has countless ways to obtain victory. And many of those ways cannot be predicted. And some of His ways are forgotten if not properly written down for remembrance. And the song ends with a curious proclamation:

v31 Let all your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him shine like the sun when it comes out in full strength.” So the land had rest for forty years.

This is Hebrew poetry at its finest, the use of contrast as employed in the book of Proverbs. This is the deliverance of the Lord! And God’s desire for His people to shine! Especially as we are called to be lights in this world. Not just reflections or even expressions of His light, but light itself – the light that always overtakes darkness - For “as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” This is what occurs when we trust Him and when we look to Him in the midst of every situation we face:

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

But the path of the just is like the shining sun., that shines ever brighter until the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

They looked to Him and were radiant. And their faces were not ashamed. Psalm 34:5

Leadership traits Deborah carried:

· Confidence

· Courage

· Trusted voice

· Excellent listening skills

· She supported the people she was called to lead

· She inspired men and women to rise up

· Humility- she gave glory to God

· Faith – she was successful because of her faith

· She honored the word of the Lord

· She led herself

“The best leaders are those who lead themselves” – John Maxwell

· Highly productive

· “Not all activity is productive.” – John Maxwell

· She pushed against the status quo to do a new thing; she broke out of tradition in regard to the role of female

Deborah carries the distinction of being one who broke out of tradition and became the only female judge in a time when the hearts of the children of Israel see-sawed between serving the One True God and the Baal and the Asherahs of the land. She carries further distinction in that she is one of only two judges identified also as a prophet. And she carried such authority that people came up to see her, up into the mountains of Ephraim where she sat to judge, to settle their disputes. Coming up the mountain to see Deborah likely wasn’t an easy task, but the people were willing.

And Deborah sat under a palm tree. The prophetic symbolism here is that she sat and ruled from a place of joyful victory. And the palm tree was known as “the palm tree of Deborah” further signifying the level of authority she carried in the land.

By the time Deborah’s story begins, the LORD, in His displeasure with their behavior, had sold the children of Israel into the hand of King Jabin, a king who harshly oppressed them for twenty years, with nine hundred chariots of iron under the command of Sisera. It' is in this harsh climate that Deborah rises up as a prophet to judge a nation - until the Day everything changed, as all things must eventually change.

And on this Day, Deborah, as the woman of influence she is, calls and sends for Barak and when he ascends the mountain to meet with her she poses the question, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded? Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men…” In effect Deborah is saying, “the Lord says it’s time to go and fight Sisera and his army, and here’s the strategy.” Because Deborah has specific instructions from the Lord for as to where Barak should gather the men and where he should deploy the men. It’s a specific blueprint from the Lord that will grant Israel the victory and give God the glory. And Deborah is the one who’s been given the blueprint for Israel’s victory, and she is wise in the way she communicates with Barak (more in the manual).

Because Israel has no chariots of iron, just under-equipped and outnumbered men who are willing to fight. And what they have is the Lord’s promise to deliver Sisera into their hand. It’s a battle that will require require Faith to fight – faith in God and God’s promise to them.

Barak is a man who’s perhaps been misunderstood. We’ve simply believed what tradition has handed down to us, without receiving fresh revelation and insight from the Holy Spirit. So let’s cast aside all we’ve been taught and take a look at this with fresh eyes. Because the first thing Barak says is “I will go” although there’s a condition on it – “if you will go.” But could it be he recognized the anointing on Deborah’s life? Could this be his acknowledgment that God’s hand was on Deborah’s life? Could this have been wisdom on his part, not cowardice as we’ve been taught? Could it be Barak recognized the value of partnering with this woman of God? Barak then moves on to his second statement – “but if you will not go with me, I will not go” and here’s what he seems to be most remembered for – the man who would not go into battle unless a woman went with him, rather than the man who partnered with a woman to go into battle.

Deborah doesn’t appear to be insulted by Barak’s terms; neither is there evidence of her being surprised, for straightaway, she responds, “I will surely go with you.” Deborah then concludes her agreement to go into battle with Barak by saying, “nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Could it be that this is merely a prophetic statement on Deborah’s part, not a condemnation? There is no direct rebuke here - either form Deborah or from the Lord, just a statement of what will be. In other words, “it is what it is.” Could it be that a strong man is not intimidated by a strong woman? And could it be that Barak was secure enough in himself that he didn’t care whether or not he got the glory? Or that he had no concern if a woman were to get the glory? Perhaps as a warrior victory was his primary concern. And perhaps Barak understood Israel’s victory would ultimately be for God’s glory. And as Deborah operated outside of the status quo of her day, Barak was free as well to make his own choices. We only know Barak’s words; we don’t know his motives. It’s wise not to make strong conclusions with inconclusive evidence.

And my encouragement is to read the two chapters and study this story for yourself to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for both Deborah and Barak, instead of relying wholly on what’s tradition has handed down to us or someone’s else’s interpretation, including my own. My studies have led me to shift my perspective from outside of the box of what I’d previously been taught. A fresh perspective has enabled me to see Deborah and Barak working together as a portrayal of the value of men and women working together in the body of Christ, without envy or competition, without one half of the equation being “lesser.” My encouragement is that you read Deborah’s story without any preconceived “learns” or “knowings” and let the Holy Spirit breath a fresh layer of understanding.

But let’s look at what’s recorded in the Jerusalem Bible. It certainly brings another layer of distinction and clarity, and it’s not a coincidence that I happened to pick up this Bible after writing the words above I just happened to write. (Some would call it “happenstance” but I would call it “providence.” Let’s read:

“If you come with me, I will go; if you will not come, I will not go, for I do not know how to choose the day when the angel of Yahweh will grant me success.” “I will go with you then,” she said, “but, the way you are going about it, the glory will not be yours; for Yahweh will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah stood up and went with Barak to Kedesh, and there Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Then thousand men marched behind him, and Deborah marched with him. Judges 4:8-10 Jerusalem Bible Readers Edition

Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh, where he mustered ten thousand men under his command. This is what happens when a “Barak” answers the call of God on his life and rises up – ten thousand men rise up with him. But it was Deborah who discerned the day and the hour:

“Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” (Judges 4:4).

And it was Deborah who declared the word of the Lord concerning the victory He would grant them – and it happened just as she prophesied:

“And against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots (900) and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hands (Judges 4:7).

And as Deborah and Barak went forth, together, under the Lord’s directive, the victory was overwhelming. More details are given in the next chapter, often referred to as “The Song of Deborah” but the Jerusalem Bible has the distinction of recording Judges 5 as “The Song of Deborah and Barak.” And perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising that the Lord delivered Sisera into the hand of a female, Jael, in a time when the nation was judged by a female. A few details details of the victory makes it clear the Lord worked on behalf of the nation, with Deborah and Barak taking the lead, in faith of the Lord’s assured victory – not knowing how He would do it, but knowing that He would.

Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heaven’s poured, the clouds also poured water; the mountains gushed before the Lord (Judges 5:4).

Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. v8

The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they took no spoils of silver. They fought from the heavens; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away, that ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. v19-21

In effect, this song make it clear - the victory was obtained by the direction of the Lord and the hand of the Lord. God was faithful to do what only He can do. Deborah and Barak and the fighting men of Israel as well as Jael, simply had to show up and do their part. And after Jabins’s army was defeated, the land had rest for forty years. This is what a decisive victory looks like. And this happened under the rulership of Deborah. The song ends with this declaration:

Thus let all your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength. Judges 5:31

May you, like Deborah:

*rise up as a Mother in the territory God has given you

*be like the sun as it shines in full strength (Judges 5:31)

*march on in strength (Judges 5:21)

*Communicate with full confidence and clarity

*Operate fully seated in your identity

Meditative Scriptures:

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:21

Oh my soul, march on in strength! Judges 5:21

Achsah’s Virtues- A Recap: Joshua 15:16-19 ( & Judges 1:12-15)

Achsah knew her identity and operated from that place of identity

Achsah proved herself to be her father’s daughter when she boldly requested, “give me a blessing.” She carried her father’s courage and spiritual DNA. For Caleb had proclaimed “Give me my mountain!” and she carried that same level of boldness. (It appears also that Achsah had been taking notes under her father’s leadership, for leaders must lead with courage. You also have been granted a spirit of love and power and a sound mind. There is no room for fear or timidity.

Achsah knew her father’s heart:

She knew her father’s heart would be toward her, to give her her request, to grant her a good inheritance. All she had to do was ask! And Jesus taught this principle:

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will you give him a stone…” Luke 11:11

Achsah believed.

Achsah believed the testimony. She’d heard the stories. She’d heard the testimonies. We now have a complete book of Testimony! And you overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony according to Revelation 12:11

Achsah portrays the principle of James 4:2:

“You have not because you ask not.” Let this not be said of you. God will answer the prayers you are willing to pray, as long as you don’t ask amiss from a place of selfish ambition. Achsah clearly understood, and modeled, the value of asking.

Achsah portrays the Lord has a special place in His heart for His daughters:

This is evidenced by the mention of daughters throughout the word, as there are 84 verses about daughters throughout Scripture.

Achsah was known and protected by her father:

In our modern world it may seem unjust to be given in marriage to a spouse not of our choosing, but I would propose - Could it be Caleb knew his strong daughter would need a strong man? Could it be that Caleb was insuring his daughter would be given to someone who would protect and defend her? Because Caleb was a warrior, was he ensuring his daughter would be partnered with a warrior? At any rate, we have a Father today who is also our Protector and Defender.

Achsah understood Inheritance:

Achsah also highly valued her inheritance. And today you have and inheritance in Christ that has no borders and no limitations,

Achsah honored her husband:

“Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field.” It isn’t much to go on, but the word is clear – Achsah consulted first with her husband before taking the action of going to her father, and in this way she honored her new marriage and her husband. And the word is also clear – she persuaded. She didn’t manipulate, she persuaded.

Scripture for Meditation:

Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. Psalm 2:8 NKJ

Yet you do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

Questions:

Are you fully convinced of the Father’s heart toward you?

When you pray, do you pray and ask boldly and specifically?

Do you ever find yourself settling for “good enough”? If so, in what areas?

What is the vision for “more” that God has granted you for your life?

What Has He called you to?

What are your observations from the life of Achsah?

What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you?

What lesson can you apply to your own life?

Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” Joshua 15:19.

In all of Achsah’s story, these are her only recorded words. But in these few short words, we can clearly hear and sense the boldness in her request, bordering on “demand” even, for she knew who she was. She knew she was her father’s daughter and she knew could not let the opportunity pass her by to ask her father for more. She grew up watching her father wait for his inheritance and she knew this was her moment to ask for more. Because she had learned a thing or two about inheritance after watching a generation wander in the wilderness and lose their inheritance. And she was determined by all means not to lose out on any measure of inheritance that could be hers for the asking.

Because Achsah was the daughter of Caleb, the man who had said forty years prior – “We can take the land!” One of only two men who stood in a posture of faith to take God at His word when He had clearly said He would give the Israelites the land. Ten other men had shrunk back in fear, saying, “there are giants in the land and we are grasshoppers in their sight” while Caleb and Joshua had separated themselves from the fear these other men carried and attached themselves to God’s promise, thus proving themselves to be courageous faith-filled men.

“And now, forty years later and after proclaiming “Give me my mountain!” Caleb is in process of taking conquest of the land that’s been promised to the Israelites. And upon arrival of the outskirts of a city yet to be conquered Caleb had announced “He who attacks Kirjath-Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” Caleb’s nephew Othniel rises to the occasion and takes the city, thus obtaining Achsah as his bride. Othniel however, receives much more than what he had been promised and much more than what he could have hoped for, and this is because of Othniel’s willingness to listen to and receive the words and counsel of Achsah, his newly acquired wife – the suggestion that she ask her father for yet more land than what is slated for them to receive. Othniel doesn’t stand in her way, doesn’t argue her counsel, and both he and Achsah receive a far better portion.

But a quick side note – a woman who’s not given a choice as to who she will marry isn’t too tasteful by today’s standards, but let’s look at this from the culture out of which it came. Imagine those forty years, Caleb being one of only two men brave enough who were willing to move forward into their promised land, and during these years everyone of a certain age and upward dies in the wilderness, Achsah’s mother being one of these people. Imagine the stories Caleb would have shared with Achsah – the stories of God’s mighty deeds on behalf of His people. Imagine also Caleb imparting his faith and spiritual DNA into his daughter through the telling of these stories. It’s highly probably Caleb raised her to be not just a strong woman, but a strong woman of faith. And what does a strong woman need? A strong man! And so by giving his daughter to the victor, Caleb was ensuring a mighty man of valor for his daughter, as he knows that only a strong man will suit her. And when two strong people stand together much is accomplished, as is made apparent in Achsah’s story.

Enter back into Achsah’s story now. Achsah assesses her situation and the land that’s been allotted to her and her husband, and she makes an astute observation. The land that’s been appropriated to her and Othniel is far from ideal. It’s a land without water or water rights and a land without water is not good enough. Achsah has made an accurate assessment of this land and decides she’s not going to settle for this land that’s less than ideal. She wants a better portion, the full measure of her inheritance. She wants all that’s within her right to receive as the daughter of the one who’s been instrumental in taking the land. What’s been promised is a land of milk and honey, and this portion of land is not that. Rather, it is a land that will not reach its capacity for fruitfulness. Achsah knows she must ask for more.

Achsah therefore, after consulting with her husband, approaches her father with the only recorded words we have of her, “Give me a blessing…give me also spring of water.” In actuality, this is more of a demand than a request, and with these actions and these words we glean much insight into the character and virtue of Achsah. She comes not with timidity, but with boldness and with same measure of confident faith her father had expressed when he had boldly declared “we can take the land!” She portrays here that she is indeed her father’s daughter.

And without hesitation Caleb grants Achsah both the upper and lower springs. He is her father and not surprisingly he wants what’s best for his daughter. And Achsah must have known this. She knew her father’s heart and she knew all she had to do was ask. She could have settled for less, but she understood there was more to be gained in the asking. And she asked forthrightly, without shame and without guilt. She knew her worth in her father’s eyes. After forty years spent wandering in the wilderness with no battles to fight and no land to take, Caleb had had ample time to share his heart with his daughter and his love for her. And their bond likely intensified after the death of Achsah’s mother.

And in the asking and receiving, Achsah proved her worth to her new husband stepping into her role of wife. For it was she who was instrumental in the expansion of their newly-acquired territory. Additionally, she honored Othniel by consulting him first, and in doing so she modeled she was a wife worthy of his trust. A wife that would bring him much gain. Together they modeled the value of two standing together; the strength of union.

And Achsah’s story is a reminder – not to become like those James speaks of who “have not because they ask not.” Because you also have a Father who wants what’s best for you, and a Father who has an inheritance for you and who wants to see you blessed. And perhaps you also sense that God has more for you. Your see beyond your current situation and you see the potential of the more. It doesn’t matter that others don’t see what you see or that others only see “what is” and not what could be. Others may be willing to settle for a lesser portion, but you are not required to. Hold true to who you are and what you know God has for you, as did Achsah. You too have a Father you can approach boldly with your requests, and there is never any reproach in the asking. In fact, God delights in the faith tucked inside of your ask. He is your father who has an inheritance for you and who delights to give you good gifts out of the abundance of the goodness of His heart toward you. It’s time now for you to ASK for your more.

Meditative Scripture:

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the things of the kingdom. Luke 12:32

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Understanding our starting point for Abigail and we will progress from this virtue, according to the chronology of Abigail’s story, but first, to extract from the Websters 1928 app:

Understanding: 1. The faculty of the human mind by which it presents the real state of things presented to it, or by which it receives or comprehends the ideas which others express and and intend to communicate. 3. Intelligence between two or more persons; agreement of minds; union of sentiments. There is a good understanding between the minister and his people.

Additionally, understanding is a word related to authority. Understanding has to do with whose authority you stand under. Ultimate understanding therefore comes through submitting to God’s authority. And Abigail had an immediate understanding of the intensity of the situation her servants reported to her.

v17 “Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him”

Household management. This conversation denotes the relationship that existed between Abigail and the servants. They may have been her husband’s servants “in name” but the level of familiarity in this relationship denotes many conversations had already taken place between them. Abigail portrays the virtue of managing her household well, including the treatment of her servants. They were comfortable enough to call Nabal a scoundrel without fear of repercussion from her. They also understood the level of responsibility she carried for her household affairs, and because of Abigails’s value and treatment of these servants, they understood they had recourse to take the matter to her. (And as a side note, if Nabal were alive today he would likely be termed a narcissist.)

v18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.

Decision-making/Decisive action: Abigail knew when and how to take decision action. She may have been demeaned by Nabal, but she wasn’t a helpless woman and she didn’t waste a moment when every second mattered. She didn’t over analyze the situation or throw up her hands in despair. She simply did what needed to be done in that moment. Nothing more, nothing less. This is compounded wisdom.

Preparedness: Abigal’s is prepared. She’s in a state of readiness when the crisis occurs, she’s not caught off guard. “Five sheep already dressed” portrays Abigail is a woman who is prepared for any situation that might arise. “Two skins of wine” sounds a bit conservative for the number of David’s men and this may be an exercise of moderation on her part, due to being married to a man who likely overdrank. At any rate, Abigail understood the value of moderation.

v19 But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

Prudence: Abigail’s virtue here is that she knows when to exercise prudence, in this case a cautiousness in not telling her husband.

Prudent (straight from Websters 1828): Cautious; circumspect; wise in a practical manner; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility… But the prudent considers well his steps, Proverbs 14:15. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, Proverbs 22:3… Wise; Intelligent.

This is counter to what has been taught according to a traditional “patriarchal” church thinking (which has been handed down to us and has too often been unchallenged). And on a related note, there’s a broadened understanding today of mutual honor and women asking their spouses for a blessing rather than permission. The issue for Abigail was this - there was no time to get debate or argue this issue with Nabal. Lives were at stake and every moment counted. Abigail knew David was a man of action who would not take time to delay in plundering his enemy, and that hunger can be a wild driving force (causing recklessness).

v23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed to the ground.

Humility: (There’s a time to be dignified and there’s a time to be humble) and Abigail knew this was a time to posture herself in humility. She is approaching the man who would be king and she knows the wisdom of the posture of humility in presenting her case. And she exhibits honor in this posture of humility. She is a woman who carries herself with confidence and dignity, but this doesn’t preclude her from giving honor where honor is due.

v24 So she fell at his feet and said, “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.”

Responsibility: Here is where Abigail does what so many are unwilling to do – she takes personal responsibility - and for actions that are not directly her own, merely connected to her household. And she doesn’t presume anything. She doesn’t make any assumptions. She doesn’t let loose with a flood of words; she asks for permission to speak. Abigail is honoring David in every way possible.

v25 Please let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

Abigail acknowledges the wrong done to David and his men. She acknowledges her husband’s actions were foolish and unwarranted. She makes no excuses for him. She makes sure to state these things before explaining she knew nothing of the matter. The case Abigail presents here is brilliant. She continues to exercise humility as she continues to honor David.

v27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.

Gift-giving: Abigail knows she is giving what should have been given in the first place. It’s food David and his men need. She knows her apologies and entreaties are worthless without the accompanying food. She knows the principle that when you stand before Kings you bring a gift. And that her gift, in this case food, will make room for her. She knows her apology is incomplete without the gift of food that had (already) been requested. She restores back to David, with honor, what should have already been his. And in this manner, her gift was connected to restitution.

v28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord and enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.

Apology and Forgiveness: Only after Abigail sets the tone for her apology to better insure it will be received does she make her official apology. Her apology includes a humble heart posture, acknowledgment of the wrong done, no presumption whatsoever, her emotions in check, and no insincere flattery, just straightforward honor. Her apology, like her entreaty, is brilliant.

v29-31 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and see your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of the sling. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.

Prophecy: Abigail now prophesies. Whether she realizes it or not she is prophesying – a blend of “fore-telling” and forth-telling.” Everything she speaks comes to pass. Saul ultimately loses his life in battle and Nabal’s life is “slung out” from him. Abigail has confident assurance over what God will do and she prophesies according to the measure of her faith.

Persuasion: A virtue of Abigail not to be overlooked, as she persuades David in a righteous manner; there is no manipulation whatsoever. And in the midst of her gentle persuasion she reminds David of who He is. She reminds David of his identity and actions fit for a king – to operate according to his God-given identity. And in the midst of Abigail’s persuasion is wise counsel. She knows how to give counsel in a way it can be (more readily) received. Because counsel, if not received, is of no use. Thus, Abigail exemplifying she is a woman of wisdom and understanding. And a sidenote, Wisdom and understanding often flow and pair together, as evidenced in Isaiah 11:2 and throughout the Proverbs.

v32-33 Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advise and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and and from avenging myself with my own hand

v35 See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.

Here David acknowledges and gratefully receives Abigail’s counsel, and honors her in return. Abigail has proven herself to be a woman worthy of respect. Not by disrespecting David’s person, but by honoring him and respecting him. And here we have a picture of a man and a woman standing together, mutually honoring one another. In addition she has respected herself. Abigail’s husband may not have respected her, but she maintained respect for herself. Otherwise she could not have stood before David in the manner in which she stood. She didn’t allow her circumstance of being married to a fool affect her worth and dignity as a woman and this is her virtue. And in the end, she earns the respect of a king.

Meditative Scriptures:

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26

Listen, for I speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips come right things. Proverbs 8:6

Wisdom speaks: I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17

For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8: 35

Questions:

How do you present your apologies?

Do your apologies include justifications?

Do your apologies include or exclude the word “but” at the end?

How well is your household prepared?

How long could your household weather a storm or survive a crisis?

How well is your vehicle prepared?

How do you employ persuasion?

From AI: (with Scripture added)

The art of persuasion in the Bible is rooted in reason, moral appeal, and divine empowerment. Not manipulation or coercion….Biblical persuasion is not about forcing beliefs but about changing hearts and minds through truth, trust, and the Holy Spirit’s work.

Key principles of Biblical persuasion include:

Gentleness and sincerity: Speaking with grace, humility, and respect.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Ultimately, while human effort and skill are vital, true persuasion is a work of the Holy Spirit…

We persuade others, not by human wisdom, but by the power of God.

Amen. May we learn the virtues of Abigail and put them into practice.

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil and evil in his doings… 1 Samuel 25:2-3

Here we are introduced to Abigail as a woman of “good understanding” in stark contrast to the description given to her husband, so let’s look at the Hebrew word for “understanding.”

Sekel (H7922): Intelligence, by implication success: - knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise.

In the Hebrew, each word in the definition carries equal weight and application. This means Abigail carried all of the above traits. And because “sekel” is only used 16x in Scripture, this implies that the wisdom and understanding Abigail carried was rare. And it is one of the same the words used to describe Solomon. In all likelihood Nabal’s prosperity was connected to Abigail’s wisdom, particularly her wisdom in managing their household and their servants.

And as her story begins it’s a time of prosperity for her household, but for David and his men who are in the region it’s a time of need, as he’s still being pursued by Saul and his men. David and his men are hungry and this is why he’d sent ten men to ask for provisions, and he wasn’t out of line to do so. He was simply asking for Nabal to give out of the abundance he had, and at a time of celebration when the food was plentiful. David also politely reminded Nabal of all he and his men had done in watching over Nabal’s sheep. It would have been common courtesy, not to mention common hospitality customs of the day, for Nabal to return the favor. But Nabal responds as the scoundrel he is, scorning not only David’s men, but David Himself. And when David hears of it he proclaims “every man gird on his sword” – hot-tempered and ready for the bloodshed of Nabal’s entire household in retaliation. Hunger will drive a man to reckless actions.

Abigail however is equally quick to action when she hears the news from her servants how David has been reviled and how “harm is determined against our master and against all his household.” With decisive and wise action she makes haste and loads donkeys with an abundance of food, intent on honoring David’s request while at the same time interceding on behalf of her husband. In essence, she’s taking on the responsibility of mediating between two men. And she’s doing so without telling her husband. Perhaps a bold move for a woman in her day. It’s also worth noting that Abigail is a woman prepared. She has “five sheep already dressed” as part of the provision she’s bringing to David. A wise woman indeed watches well ove the ways of her household. And she is not caught off guard when the unexpected happens.

And Abigail moves with such decisive action she is able to intercept David on his journey toward slaughter. Then Abigail shows herself to be a woman of virtue and steps into her moment in history. Single-handedly and in a way that honors David, Abigail persuades David to change his course of action, and this wasn’t merely an act of self-preservation on Abigail’s part. She knows David will later regret this reckless course of action when he becomes king. After all, David had integrity enough to spares Saul’s life despite Saul’s malice toward him. She knows David is a man of honor (with one exception that will later play itself out with Uriah). Her request was for David’s benefit as much as it was for her own.

And the manner in which Abigail carries herself and how she presents herself enables David to receive her gracious advice and maintain his honor, rather than act in a way that would negatively affect his kingship when he becomes king. For David was a man of war quite capable of wiping out Nabal’s entire household. His own words give evidence of his heartfelt thanks for Abigail’s ability to turn his heart toward the wisdom of a better course of action:

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you…”

David also receives Abigail’s gift of food, and exemplifies he is a man who knows how to give honor where honor is due:

Go up in peace to your house. See I have heeded your voice and respected your person.

And the Lord protects Abigail. When Abigail discovers her husband is drunk upon her arrival home, she makes the wise decision to wait till the morning to tell Nabal of her actions. There is a time for all things and when Abigail does tell, “his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it happened after about ten days, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.” Scripture tells us this was Nabal’s evil returning back upon his own head. This was also God’s hand of protection upon Abigail. In this story Nabal is described as harsh and evil, a scoundrel and a fool, and as he was cruel and lacking compassion toward David and his men, it’s likely he treated Abigail in the same manner. It’s likely there would have been retaliation against Abigail if the hand of God had not intervened. The Lord always rewards the righteous. This is a principle throughout Scripture.

It’s also noteworthy that although Nabal likely didn’t see Abigail’s value and worth and didn’t value Abigail, David did. David also perceived her wisdom and wisdom is always beautiful in appearance. Therefore, when David heard the news of Nabal’s demise he wasted no time in proposing to Abigail. And when Abigail accepted David’s proposal, she continued to position herself as the maidservant that she was. She had not allowed Nabal’s treatment of her to determine or devalue her worth, therefore she maintained the confidence to humble herself before David. For it is a confident person, not an arrogant one, who will humble herself before God and others. This is but one of the many of Abigail’s virtues.

And accordingly, Abigail went from the wife of a fool to the wife of the man who would rule. Because she was a woman who didn’t allow her circumstance to negate the woman she knew she was. A woman who didn’t allow her circumstances to determine or devalue her worth. And she took decisive action and exercised the wisdom she carried when the situation urgently required it. She humbly mediated between two men, with grace and dignity. And in doing so, in righting the wrong of her husband, interceding on his behalf, she spared the bloodshed of innocent lives. Abigail was a woman of wisdom, confidence, humility, dignity, and generosity, and the entirety of her story is recorded in 1 Samuel 25 and well worth the read.

Just as meekness is a strength (strength under control) and not a weakness, femininity is also a strength and not a weakness. For femininity, like masculinity, is a virtue. And it is not a lesser virtue. For any reference to a woman as a “weaker vessel” refers only to physical strength; it does not speak to her spiritual and emotional fortitude, which springs from her feminine virtue, which is no less than that of a man.

And thankfully, both the feminine and masculine strength are needed; the design of male and female each has its vital and complementary part. Therefore, when femininity and womanhood are properly understood and admired, it will not be a requirement that masculinity be dishonored or despised. Both have virtue. Both have honor. Both are meant to be celebrated. And even though many have come out of alignment with the male and female design and our private and public relations with one another, this can be remedied with a fuller understanding of the God-given strengths of femininity and how it was meant to be expressed. For the original design of womanhood was never meant to intimidate men, or to rob men of their strength.

Because woman was created, like man, to be powerfully impactful on this planet and to stand with man in the dominion mandate give to both “male and female.” ..... To be continued

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.”

These are the words of Achsah as recorded in Joshua 15:19. Do you hear the boldness in her request? But first, an introduction:

Achsah is the daughter of Caleb who’s been taking conquest of the land that’s been promised to the Israelites – the one who had made his own bold request when it finally came time to take the land, “Give me my mountain!” And on the outskirts of a city yet to be conquered Caleb had announced “He who attacks Kirjath-Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” Caleb’s nephew Othniel rises to the occasion and takes the city, thus obtaining Achsah as his bride. Othniel however, receives much more than what he had been originally promised, and this was because of his willingness to listen to and receive the words of his wife.

But a quick side note – a woman who’s not given a choice as to who she will marry isn’t too tasteful by today’s standards, but let’s look at this from the culture out of which it came. Caleb was one of only two men who were willing to take God at His word and who had believed and declared “we can take the land” while the other ten men had said, “there are giants in the land and we are grasshoppers in their sight.” And during those forty years while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness waiting for the next generation to rise up and enter the promised land, imagine the stories Caleb likely shared with Achsah – the stories of God’s mighty deeds on behalf of his people. Imagine also Caleb instilling his spiritual DNA into his daughter through the telling of these stories. It’s highly probably Caleb raised her to be a strong woman. And what does a strong woman need? A strong man! And so by giving his daughter to the victor, Caleb was ensuring a strong man for his daughter, as he knew that only a strong man would suit her.

But back to Achsah now. Newly married to Othniel, she employs an astute and discerning eye to her situation and the land that’s been apportioned to her, and makes the bold decision to ask her father for more! Because she has accurately assessed that the land that’s been granted to her is far from ideal. It’s a land without water and a land without water or water rights is not enough! It will not reach its capacity for fruitfulness and Achsah is not willing to settle for less. She wants the full measure of her inheritance; she wants all that’s within her right to receive as the daughter of the one who’s been instrumental in taking the land.

Achsah therefore, after consulting with her husband, approaches her father with the only recorded words we have of her, “Give me a blessing…give me also spring of water.” In actuality, this is more of a demand than a request, and with these actions and these words we glean much insight into the character and virtue of Achsah. She comes not with timidity, but with boldness and with same measure of confident faith her father had expressed when he had boldly declared “we can take the land!” She portrays here that she is indeed her father’s daughter.

And without hesitation Caleb grants her both the upper and lower springs. He is her father and not surprisingly he wants what’s best for his daughter. And Achsah must have known this. After forty years spent in the wilderness, wandering with no battles to fight and no land to take, Caleb had ample time to share his heart with his daughter. Achsah models for us that we have a responsibility to ask, lest we become like those James speaks of who “have not because they ask not.” One of Achsah’s virtues was her boldness and her willingness to simply ask. She knew her father’s heart and she knew all she had to do was ask. She could have settled for less, but she understood there was more to be gained in the asking. And she asked forthrightly, without shame, and without guilt. She knew her worth in her father’s eyes. And in the asking and receiving, she proved her worth to her new husband through her role in the expansion of their newly-acquired territory. She honored him as well, by consulting him first, and in doing so she modeled she was a wife worthy of his trust.

You also have a loving Father who wants what’s best for you, a Father who has an inheritance for you, a Father who is more than willing. And able. And perhaps you also know your current situation is not enough. You know God has more for you. You have the vision and you see it. It doesn’t matter that others can’t see what you see or that other may only see what “is” and not what could be or should be; or that others may be willing to settle for a lesser portion. Hold true to who you are and what you know God has for you, as did Achsah. You too have a Father you can approach boldly with your requests, and there is never any reproach in the asking. In fact, God delights in the faith tucked inside of your ask. He is your father who delights to give you good gifts out of the abundance of the goodness of His heart toward you.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the counsel of His will…. Ephesians 1:11

Just as meekness is a strength (strength under control) and not a weakness, femininity is also a strength and not a weakness. For femininity, like masculinity, is a virtue. And it is not a lesser virtue. For any reference to a woman as a “weaker vessel” refers only to physical strength; it does not speak to her spiritual and emotional fortitude, which springs from her feminine virtue, which is no less than that of a man.

And thankfully, both the feminine and masculine strength are needed; the design of male and female each has its vital and complementary part. Therefore, when femininity and womanhood are properly understood and admired, it will not be a requirement that masculinity be dishonored or despised. Both have virtue. Both have honor. Both are meant to be celebrated. And even though many have come out of alignment with the male and female design and our private and public relations with one another, this can be remedied with a fuller understanding of the God-given strengths of femininity and how it was meant to be expressed. For the original design of womanhood was never meant to intimidate men, or to rob men of their strength.

Because woman was created, like man, to be powerfully impactful on this planet and to stand with man in the dominion mandate give to both “male and female.” .....

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27