Do a Deborah
Years ago, the shoe company Nike came out with a successful, longstanding ad campaign with these three words: just do it.
The gain of doing it—the physical training or pushing your body to be the best it can be—is self-directed. The self is important, oh yes. Do enjoy your physical pursuits. Get in shape. Stay in shape. Buy that new water bottle. Wear what was once in the back of your closet that shows how trim and fit you are.
Three cheers.
And there’s more. Even those who don’t follow Christianity know that there is greater joy in helping someone else. The little old lady does need help crossing the street, of course. She also needs someone to get the item on the top shelf in the grocery store. And you know her lawn could be raked of leaves at this time of the year, right?
There are so many inspiring resources for all of us, secular and religious alike. One of these inspirations is Deborah.
The story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5 begins like many stories in the Book of Judges. By this, I mean there is a pattern. The people of Israel sin against the Lord, and God, aware of a greater plan to bring them back, brings them back to Him.
In Deborah’s story, God sells His people out to King Jabin of Canaan. God is not done here. God has not waved His hands or turned His back on His people, but this truly painful situation continues for 20 years until the Israelites finally cry out to God for help.
At this time, the prophetess Deborah is leading Israel as a judge. She sends for Barak, a commander in Israel’s army, and tells him to go and fight Jabin’s army led by Sisera.
Barak says he will only go to battle if Deborah goes with him. Deborah agrees. She also shares with Barak that the honor of this battle won will go to her, not him, because the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.
You go, girl.
When Barak’s army advances, the Lord confuses Sisera’s army. Sisera, who flees on foot, is defeated.
This is a win for the people of Israel. It’s also a win for all women then and now.
Yes, girls, you really can—and do—go!
The story of Deborah and Barak does not conveniently stop at the end of Judges 5. Scripture does move on. So can we. You may not have a King Jabin of Canaan or a Sisera in your life now. (Then again?) But you do now have is the knowledge of a woman who not only listens to God and speaks for God, but also you have a compassionate soul who doesn’t just sit. She moves. She calls. She inspires. She gets the job done.
Back to your new water bottle and that spiffy look you are (pun intended) sporting from the back of your closet. Your job isn’t done. That little old lady may not be little, old, or female. She may be a toddler. He may be a fifth grader. She may be a burdened soul at any age in a sour relationship.
The point is this. Do a Deborah. Help someone.
Deborah calls Barak. Maybe God is calling you to do the same to someone else, or maybe someone is calling on you for help.
Help. Get it done. Just do it.
Deborah didn’t catch a lightning bolt and rocket its destructive power on the enemy. She didn’t leap a tall building or outrun a speeding train. With her faith in God, she accompanied someone she knew who was in a hard place.
We don’t have to be superheroes to help. We simply need to listen to God who, like the Israelites in this story, does have a plan that includes goodness and love.
Before I close, I want to warn against the prosperity gospel. This theology promotes that showers of blessings WILL happen, that the good we want will always prevail. This means that sometimes we do not receive the victory we want.
This certainly doesn’t mean it’s a loss. It means that God has another plan, and the biggest, best part of that plan is His Son, Jesus, our Savior.
Just do it. Do a Deborah. Be present to someone who needs help.
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