Women in War

I'm not a feminist and am very conservative in my views about women in the work force, minstry and in positions of leadership. It caught me off guard when my husband and I read Judges chapter four this morning in our daily study of Scripture.


It would be worth your while to read and consider this acount of history, so fitting for our times.


When reading the Old Testament I often find myself scratching my head trying to figure out how the text applies to modern living. But this chapter speaks boldly about God's view of women in leadership, war and obedience. And since we know that God never changes, what was true in the beginning still stands.


Let me refresh your memory. Israel was once again ensnared by corruption and due to their foolishnes had fallen under the oppression of their enemies. Now they cry out to God. Here's the thing. Every time Israel fell flat, she cried out to God for mercy and salvation. God the ever-faithful always comes through.


Now Deborah is anointed judge over Israel. She sits under a palm tree to hear complaints and give guidance, according to the will of God. You see, she was also a prophetess. There is significance to the palm as well, a symbol of righteousness, strength and victory.


Israel is being oppressed by the Canaanites under rule of King Jabin from Hazor, whose army is commanded by Sisera. This dude has some nine hundred chariots of iron in his employ, along with some mighty tough warriors.


But Deborah hears from God and she summons this fellow Barak and tells him to take an army of ten thousand to battle the Canaanites at the Kishon River, assuring him the Lord will go before them in victory. He says he'll go if she'll go with him.


Two things immediately strike me. The first is, she's a woman; she's also married and not to Barak. The second is, he won't go to war unless this woman goes with him. How buffalo chicken wings is that?


I understand she's a prophetess and all, and he's probably wanting a play-by-play to see how this all pans out. As was often typical with the Israelites when sent up against powerful nations, their trust in God was short of absolute. They cowered. Now Barak wants to hide behind her skirt.


Notice her answer to Barak. Dude, whatever! If you're so lame, I'll go with you but mind you this, if I go, you get no glory (paraphrased, of course.) The enemy will be delivered into the hands of a woman.


First of all, we are not far shy of our Jewish friends. My urgent warning the past few years has been from 2 Chronicles 7:14-15. Christians in the United States have fallen far from God, worshiping the idols of television, business, ipods, children, sports, pleasure, fast food - pick one, add one - you name it - we've worshipped these idols at the expense of God's blessings. And now look at where we've gotten ourselves.


The next thing that takes us by surprise in the fourth chapter Judges is that it isn't Deborah who brings the demise of the enemy, but another altogether. Here's Jael, minding her tent while hubby's out doing whatever he does for a living and along comes Sisera the weasel who ran from his men while they got slaughtered by Barak and company. Obviously Jael has a clue what's going on because her husband had a rapport with old King Jabin in Hazor. Why would she kill the commander of Jabin's army? She had to have known what was up either from the Holy Spirit or a messenger from Barak's troops. At any rate, there are ten thousand Israelite warriors not far off, yet one little housewife pokes a tent peg through this powerful man's head.


You want to lay blame on the Republicans? The Democrats who reigned before them? The sins of Bill Clinton? The corruption of Senators?


Folks, look in the mirror. You need only look at your own lifestyle and if you're willing to be honest with yourself, you will see that God is not happy with you. Nor me! I'm not sitting here pointing a finger at you without three pointing back at myself.


We've become starkly aware of our deficiencies, our foolishness, our idols, our sins. My husband and I are at a point where if we lose everything, we praise God, because we have repented. We fell prey to the lies like so many others. Our greed got in the way of common sense. The dazzle of desire for more and better stuff blinded us to the direction of our focus and the consequences of our choices.


Since we began to delve into the word of God on a daily basis, and to pray together every morning before Steve goes off to work, our eyes are being opened.


It's really not that difficult to walk in righteousness. We make out like it's impossible. Believe me, it isn't. Rather than being obedient to the will of God (because we don't even take the time to consider what that is,) we choose instant gratification, forgetting what lies ahead.


Here's the deal. Choose to walk the straight and narrow on earth and reap the blessings of God in life and even more in heaven. Or choose worldly pleasures now and lose the blessings of God on earth and who knows what's in store?


I'm just a woman. A married woman. The Holy Spirit has convicted me that our country is in this mess because Christian men have failed to lead righteously in accordance with the will of God. Does it take a woman to get us out of this mess?


Let me say this much. Have the men of our times been emasculated? According to this chapter they weren't all that tough in Deborah and Jael's time. But the fact is, with the feminist movement and increasing numbers of women taking leadership, we have undermined the power of the men in our country.


Barack Obama hasn't got the widsom or fotitude to stand against the enemy. A self-proclaimed Christian, he won't even take a stand against abortion. If he won't protect unborn babies, what makes us think he'll protect our nation from an enemy as evil as Al Qaeda, whom he feels is no longer a threat to the US?


We seriously need some Joshuas and Calebs to stand up to the giants and lead us out of this mess. Women, get behind your men. Build them up with encouragement.


The painting above, rendered from a photograph of my sister-in-Christ and prayer partner, shows a tiny woman under beautiful towering trees. This image symbolizes to me right where God wants us - sheltered in His care. Ruth and I have a prayer ministry targeting a very specific group of Christian leaders. There are just the two of us when we go on our prayer journeys and we often feel insignificant. One day a pastor and mentor shared a story about his mother, what a powerful woman of prayer she was. It was a story both of tenderness and power.


Women don't need to take leadership in our country. They need to lift up their men so the men can effectively rule the nations. I am not saying women necessarily shouldn't lead, only that it needs to be the will of God, not humans. I believe this story of Deborah and Jael is not about women being tougher, more obedient, or more willing to do the task. It's about trusting God and doing what must be done in accordance with His plans.

That's the long and short of it.