Martha Olawale

“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:7

As was their habit, after enjoying peace for eighty years because of a leader who feared God, the Israelites returned to their old ways, abandoning the laws God gave them through Moses. Judges 4:1 says, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead.” Their disobedience led them to be oppressed until they cried to God for help again.

The story of Deborah unfolds at a time when her people were in desperate need of a righteous leader, someone with unwavering courage and strength in God to guide them out of their self-imposed captivity. She was not just a wife or mother; she was a prophet and a warrior. Her unwavering faith in Jehovah and deep understanding of her role as his child guided her leadership. She led, judged the people, and settled their disputes with wisdom and courage.

Her presence on the battlefield reminded the Israelite army of God’s strength. The Bible said the villagers held back and would not fight until Deborah arose—so much that Barak told her in Judges 4:8, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” Her intent was for victory with God, not to compete with the men. She was in the battle with Barak, yet she cared for his honor. Deborah's walk with God was trusted by others and served as a refuge for the mighty men who surrounded her.

The confidence with which she said, “Until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel,” is rooted in a depth of understanding of knowing who you are. As I read this story, my spirit jumps with excitement because I walk this path and rub shoulders with many Deborahs waiting to arise from slumber and take their place on the Kingdom field. They are strong daughters of Zion just waiting to be stirred, women whose sole purpose for existence is to live to honor Jesus. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, nurses, mothers, and wives—women ready to worship in the wasted places of their nations and join in the battle to restore them.

The virtuous woman in us is alive and well, but for restoration, God wants Deborah to rise. When Deborah arose, her nation stood with God, and the men were encouraged. Like her, the world eagerly awaits women of faith to step beyond the shallow waters and dive deeper into the things of God: pray, fast, study, evangelize, and love like Christ. We are vessels in the hands of a master sculptor, created to restore hope as we abide under the shadow of God’s wings. In embracing our identity, we will ignite the powers within us to fight for our nations, homes, marriages, sons, and daughters. There are many of us, which means the world is not big enough to defeat us.

There is a Deborah in each of us, and I speak to them in their hiding places. I pray in the name of Jesus that there will be a stirring in the hearts of every woman who reads this, and our inner being will be strengthened to fight like warriors. Together, by the strength of the Most High, we rise above the waves holding us back from living in the fullness of who God called us: restorers and builders of wasted places. I pray that with God’s hands guiding us, we will push beyond the walls the world has built around us, united in our mission to make Kingdom impacts for Christ's sake. Amen!