Once again the people of Israel are forced to learn the principle Jesus taught in John 8:34: ″Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.″ For 20 years, the northern tribes have been oppressed severely by Jabin and Sisera (Judges 4:2-3). But Israel's real problem is spiritual, not military. Its real need is a living faith in God. If the Israelites would trust Him, He would deliver them from the most impossible situation. To teach the Israelites that, God does a very unusual thing: He chooses a woman to deliver His people.

Deborah is one of the only three prophetesses in the Old Testament, and the only woman ever called by God to be the national leader of His people. She is a leader of distinction from whom we can learn a great deal:

First, she sees a need and is committed to doing something about it. She is not the only one to see the desperate need in the lives of her people, but she is the only one who is determined to do something about it (Judges 5:6-7).

Second, she enlists help (4:6). Deborah is realistic: Israel has a military problem, and she needs a military leader to do what she cannot. Therefore she sends north for Barak, a distinguished soldier. She is wise enough to know the value of a team and perceptive enough to recognise both her own limitations and Barak's strengths. Third, she motivates him (vv. 6-9). Barak is apparently wrapped up in fear and uncertainty, and Deborah sets out to encourage and motivate him. She challenges him with God's command, strengthens him with God's promise, and encourages him with her presence.

Fourth, she develops a plan (vv. 6-7). Almost anyone can see a need, but it is another thing to come up with a plan to deal with it. She tells Barak to recruit 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and have them march to Mount Tabor.

Deborah demonstrated outstanding talents as a leader. But it was only by faith in God that she carried out her plans and reached her goal. Her faith shone through her challenge to Barak (vv. 6-7) and motivated him (v. 14).

The most important characteristic of a Christian leader is a dynamic, bold faith in God. We may have all the leadership principles, but if we do not trust God or live in personal fellowship with Jesus, we will be a failure as an elder, teacher, parent, or disciple-maker. What the people we lead need more than anything else is a person who knows his God.