Calling modern day Deborahs

July 6, 2026

By Editorial Team

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

We are in the Book of Judges. This book covers 300 years from the time when Joshua ended, till Samuel. In this about 13 Judges are mentioned - Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon and Samson etc. In Judges, Lord Jesus appears three times in a human form, first in Chapter 2, then to meet and encourage Gideon (Chap 6), then to Samson's parents promising the barren couple a son (Chap 13). But his footprints are there all over the book.

In this entire time span only one person was called a Prophet, and it was a woman – Deborah. People like Othniel, Gideon and Samson stand out, but they were not prophets! Only Deborah was called a prophetess. Deborah was a mother who rose to be a Judge and Prophetess, as the Bible describes her.

The playbook is similar. Israel goes astray and the Lord allows the enemies to conquer. So Jabin king of Canaan, oppressed Israel for 20 years. His commander was Sisera, with 900 chariots of iron. And things were looking very bleak for the Israelites. But the people cried into the Lord and God raise up Deborah as a Judge and prophetess. Here are a few gleanings from her life (Judges 4, 5).

Holy Spirit orders the battle: The entire blue print is given by the Holy Spirit – Appoint Barak as a Leader. Gather 10,000 soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. Go fight at River Kishon. The Lord will deliver them into your hand. Only David had that kind of precise directions from the Lord.
People followed her willingly. “Your people shall be wiling in the day of your power (Ps 110:3).” Barak followed her instructions, army obeyed. Nobody said, you are a lady, we won’t follow you. In fact Barak and the army said, if you won’t come to the battlefield, we won’t go. God’s Presence was so thick upon her life and His word continually confirmed through her. It is the Anointing that gives courage. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke (Is 10:27). People who read their Bibles daily are different people. Life of Christ flows in them. If you are snipping at some youtube videos you are getting scraps. Spend at least half an hour to an hour daily in the Word, 2 or 3 chapters at a minimum.
The Lord fought for Israel (4:14). Israel couldn’t win this battle as they didn’t have chariots of iron. They were set up to lose, but Jesus presence made all the difference. If you read Judges 5, clearly Jesus can be seen in the battle. Curse ye meroz, said the Angel of the Lord (v 23). Angel of the Lord is a term frequently used for Lord Jesus in the Old Testament. Meroz was a village nearby which refused to help Israel. The Lord came down for me against the mighty (5:13). He went ahead of them and fought for Israel. What are the battles in your life that you have no chance to win? It is Jesus that will defeat the enemy or the circumstances that are assailing you.
Finally a housewife slays Sisera. The Lord routed Sisera and his chariots. Realising that Sisera got down from his chariot to escape on foot! He runs away to the Kenite area which was friendly with Caanan. The mistress of the house, Jael the wife of Heber, welcomes him gives him a glass of milk and shows him a guestroom to sleep. And as he sleeps, she takes a tent peg and slays him. A mere housewife, slays a king and brings an end to 20 year oppression. She didn't go to war, she didn't have great strategies, the Lord brought the King to her doorstep and she did the needful. That's why the Bible reminds us, "She that sat at home divided the spoils" (Ps 68:12).

Thus Deborah and Barak delivered Israel from the Caananites. Deborah judged Israel for 40 years, the land had rest because she followed the Lord. Friend you might be a housewife, a working woman or a student. But God is calling you to come forward. He has work for you to do in His kingdom! Women leaders are sorely needed today in church and society! If you grow in anointing, spend time in His presence, God will give you positions of influence. Not just over your households, but over churches, workplaces and neighbourhoods. I pray that God will give you the strength to fulfil your full calling in Christ. The call is not just to women, but to men also. To follow the Lord and to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and obey.