Day 11: Deborah

Her name means honey bee. She was the wife of Lappidoth, a prophet and a judge of Israel. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah and the Israelites would go to her there for judgement. She rose up at a time where the people's faith had sunk into despair and she encouraged them not only into battle but victory too. Deborah's story as with all the other stories that we've shared so far proves indeed that God shows no partiality. These stories and the ones to come teach us that God doesn’t show favoritism with people but treats everyone on the same basis both male and female. It makes no difference what race of people one belongs to or their gender. If they show deep reverence for God, and are committed to doing what’s right, they are acceptable before him. The Palm of Deborah was her place of function. It was her headquarters and place of operation. Do you know your place of function. Do you know your place of operation. We do not find Deborah chasing after other things that were not in her lane. She stuck to her lane and claimed her position, the Palm of Deborah. May you also find your place. May you discover your palm and be rooted in it. Find your place, discover your position and be rooted in your palm. Other Judges during that time would go out to war and all were men. Othniel in Judges 3:10. Ehud was sent as emissary to Eglon the king of Moab and proceeded to kill the king (Judg. 3:15-23). Gideon is sent to “defeat Midian as one man” (Judg. 6:16). Jephthah was sent to fight the sons of Ammon (Judg. 11:15). Deborah could have been presuured to follow suit seeing that the men that held the same position as her almost always went out to war. She could have been pressured to also prove a point that as a woman she can do what the men can do but she didn't. She knew her strengths and she led the children of Israel from that place of strength. For her, it wasn't a competition or a battle to prove her worth. She understood that as long as God has called you, He has qualified you. Woman understand your worth. Know who has both called and qualified you. Trust Him to use you in the way He desires. God does not follow trends. He does not adhere to the status quo. If He has chosen you to work amongst men, He will strengthen you. With God, it's never a man's job. It's for those willing and obedient. Understand your strength. Understand your place of function. Understand your area of focus and be confident in your abilities. It's so interesting that Deborah did not describe herself as prophetess or judge but a mother in Israel. She understood her position was one of mother not only to her own biological children, but mother to all the children of Israel. Your definition of who you are is very critical. You will always move in the direction of who you say you are. Your life will always align to the definition of who you believe you are. You indeed live what you believe. Who do you believe you are? May your definition of who you see yourself as be tied to who God says you are. Anna writes, Whatever Deborah had is available to you today. Her wisdom is discovered in the Scriptures. Her confidence in God is found in a relationship with him. Her bravery is achievable when you put your trust in God and his promises. Her inner strength and calm leadership are characteristic of confidence not in herself but in her God. All Deborah offered to Israel she offers to you as an example of a woman willing to be used by God.