Day 20 — Deborah Says “Go!”

“Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?’”

— Judges 4:14 (BSB)

Long before Israel had kings, God raised up leaders called judges to guide His people. And one of the most famous judges was a woman named Deborah.

Deborah was a prophetess, someone God spoke through. She would sit under a palm tree in the hill country, and people from all over Israel came to her to settle their problems. She was wise, and she listened to God.

At that time, Israel was being cruelly treated by a powerful Canaanite king. His army commander, Sisera, had nine hundred iron chariots! For twenty years, God’s people suffered.

Then God gave Deborah a message for a man named Barak. He was to gather ten thousand soldiers and go fight Sisera, and God would give Sisera into his hands.

But Barak was nervous. He said, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

So Deborah went. And when the day of battle came, she was the one who said, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?”

What gave Deborah such courage? Look at her words: “Has not the LORD gone before you?” Deborah wasn’t brave because she was strong or because she had a big army. She was brave because she trusted God. She knew He was already ahead of them, fighting for them.

And God gave Israel a great victory. Afterward, Deborah wrote a song of praise to God, which you can read in Judges 5. The land had peace for forty years.

Deborah shows us that God uses women and girls to lead, speak His truth and bring courage to others. Your voice matters. Your faith matters. When you trust God, you can encourage others to be brave too.

Maybe you’ll never lead an army. But you might be the one who says to a scared friend, You can do this. God is with you. You might be the one who stands for what’s right when others hold back.

Think about it: Deborah said, “Has not the LORD gone before you?” How does knowing God goes ahead of you help you be brave?

Try this: Encourage someone who’s nervous about something today. Remind her that God goes before her.

Dear God, thank You for Deborah, who trusted You and helped others be brave. Help me listen to You and speak Your truth. When I’m afraid, remind me that You go before me. Use my voice to encourage others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.