Reinterpreting Deborah and Barak
Today we’re reading a longer passage, about the great leader Deborah. Often throughout history she, and her military general Barak, have been maligned. She’s be spoken of as controlling or unfeminine because she usurped Barak’s job as general; he’s been poked fun at as a weakling who can’t get the job done by himself. If you’re an American individualist - and support the patriarchy - it’s easy to read it this way.
But just maybe there’s a radically different way to read this text. So take it in and then we’ll ponder what Brenna taught us on Sunday:
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “God-Too-Holy-to-Be-Named, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the God-Who-Is will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. - Judges 4:4-9
Brenna pointed out three crucial things in the text.
Barak is modeling humility and partnership. Sure, he’s the military general, but of course he wants the civic and spiritual leader of the nation to go with him on this huge venture. It just doesn’t matter that the leader he realizes he needs is a woman! She’s got the gifts and strengths he needs to bring victory! He sees her - really sees her - and knows that he’d be a fool to not have her join him. This is what true humility looks like: asking for help of those who have the strengths you need.
Deborah is glad to partner with him. There’s nothing weird in any way (or sexual!) for her to partner closely with a man. It’s for God’s kingdom! This is exactly the kind of partnership that God honors!
Deborah’s comment about a woman getting the honor is NOT a punishment and it is NOT about her. As you read forward in the text, we realize that it’s just a random woman named Yael who gets the final job done in defeating Sisera. So the end result is that this whole interaction is not about Barak and it’s not about Deborah! Instead, it’s about another ‘little’ person getting in on God’s plan… and ultimately it’s about God’s honor and glory.
What might God be saying to you about humility (asking for help), partnership (joining with the ‘unlikely other’) and glory (letting it go to others and to God)?