Judges 4

Today the reading covers the story of Deborah, who was the only female "judge" or leader of Israel during this era (at least as far as I know). She is often referenced when the question of having women in leadership roles in the church is discussed, and something along those lines came up a few weeks back in my small group / bible study. When reading through the chapter that night what struck me was that Barak, the man who she summons and tells to go lead an army against their oppressors, would not just take her word and go - he insisted that she come as well. We don't know for sure why he does this, but it strikes me as a rather cowardly thing to do. If the leader of your country orders you to do that, you go - especially when she is relaying a command from God! In return, though, the honor of killing the enemy general does not go to him; it goes to a woman.

I'm actually not entirely sure why she killed the fellow, as we are told that her family had a treaty with the enemy, but she did - and in a rather sneaky, violent (is there any way to kill someone not violently?), and ingenious way. And now history remembers her...