(a) Give an account of the war between the Israelites and the Canaanites during the time of Deborah (b) In what three ways can Christians benefit from the l...

Answer Details

(a) The war between Israel and the Canaanites in the time of Deborah (Judges 4-5)

After the death of Ehud, the Israelites again did evil, and God allowed them to be oppressed for twenty years by Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. His army commander was Sisera, who had nine hundred chariots of iron and cruelly oppressed Israel. At that time Deborah, a prophetess, was judging Israel; she sat under the palm tree of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people came to her for judgement.

Deborah summoned Barak son of Abinoam and delivered God's command: he was to take ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun to Mount Tabor, and God would draw out Sisera with his chariots to the River Kishon and deliver him into Barak's hand. Barak replied, "If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." Deborah agreed but foretold that the honour of the victory would not be Barak's, for the Lord would sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.

When the battle came, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army before Barak; a rainstorm flooded the Kishon and bogged down the chariots. Sisera fled on foot and came to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. She welcomed him, gave him milk, and covered him. When he fell asleep exhausted, she took a tent peg and a hammer and drove it through his temple, killing him. Thus God subdued Jabin, and the land had rest for forty years. Deborah and Barak then sang a song of victory praising God.

(b) Three ways Christians can benefit from Deborah's leadership qualities

1. Courage and boldness: like Deborah, Christians should be courageous in confronting evil and challenges, trusting God rather than being paralysed by fear.
2. Faith and dependence on God: her confidence rested on God's word and promise; believers should undertake tasks in reliance on God, who gives victory.
3. Wisdom, inspiration and selfless service: as a wise judge and leader she inspired and mobilised others (like Barak) for a common cause; Christians should lead, encourage and serve their communities faithfully, giving glory to God.