City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

  6 Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun.

 7 ‘I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’ ”

 8 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

 9 She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges:4:6-9

Reflection

Leadership is the influencing of others to do what they would not otherwise do on their own. The Lord has consistently utilized leaders throughout history to change the world. Moses, Joshua, Caleb, the judges, David, John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul are just some examples. Leaders are essential because people who are not influenced to do better things will focus on their own things. As leaven raises the dough, leaders raise the aspirations of others.

Deborah is a model for leadership. She influenced people to do what they were not doing, and otherwise would not have done but for her influence. Israel was oppressed by its enemies, the highways were deserted, and the villages were vacant, until Deborah arose. (Judges 5:6-7). Deborah did three things that all great leaders do.

First, Deborah spoke. (Judges 4:6-7). Millennials sometimes seem so afraid to offend that they are afraid to speak. Deborah spoke Truth, an uncomfortable and unwelcome truth: that it was the Lord’s will that they fight back against their oppressors and go to war. We are called to influence people telling them to go to war against their sin, to fight to save their marriages, and to do the other uncomfortable things they would not do if left to their own selfish desires. 

Second, Deborah acted. After Deborah told Barak he needed to go to war, Barak said he would only go if Deborah went with him. Deborah said, “I will surely go with you.” (Judges 4:8-9). Action gives credibility to words. Action by leaders is the impetus for action by those who follow. People don’t want to go on their own, but when leaders step out ahead, people will follow.

Third, Deborah celebrated the win. After defeating Sisera and Jabin’s army, Deborah and Barak sang a song. They celebrated. (Judge 5:1) The song is lengthy and probably would not top the pop charts in America (I’m guessing the song works better in Hebrew). The point is, celebration validated the importance of what had been accomplished. Good leaders understand the importance of celebrating wins with their people. Celebrating reaffirms in people that they did well by doing what they otherwise would not have done on their own. It encourages them to do the things that change the world.

Application

All Christians are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), which is another way of saying all Christians are called to be influencers of others, which is another way of saying all Christians are called to be leaders.

Speak Truth to others. Act as an example. Act to lead others to do what they otherwise would not do on their own. And then celebrate the victories with them.

Prayer

Lord, help me be a leader for those around me. Amen.