Deborah & Barak: The God Who Goes Before Us

Introduction

You can tell a lot about a culture by who steps forward when trouble comes. In every crisis, someone has to stand up — to say, “I’ll go.” But sometimes, the ones who should step up, don’t.

You might remember the 2022 school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, as one of the most prominent examples of police inaction during an active shooter event. Reports found that hundreds of officers waited for over an hour before engaging and killing the gunman, despite the fact that students and teachers were trapped inside with him.

Of course there are other stories like this, some much more recent.

That’s Judges 4 and 5. Israel was oppressed, fear ruled the land, and the men of war had gone silent. And into that silence, God raised up Deborah — a woman of faith, courage, and conviction — because the men wouldn’t move.

This isn’t a story about male versus female. It’s a story about faith versus fear. It’s about what happens when men hesitate and God still works — through anyone who believes Him enough to act.

And it’s a call to every man of God today:

Don’t wait for someone else to do what God has already called you to do. Lead with faith. Lead with courage. Lead like you believe God keeps His word.

PRAYER

Judges 4 ESV

1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3 Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. 4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. 7 And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” 8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. 12 When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13 Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. 17 But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’ ” 21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. 23 So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. 24 And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

God calls men to lead with courage not hesitation.

Judges 4:6 “6 …“Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, …”

Judges 4:8 “8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.””

Observation: Deborah calls Barak to act on God’s promise, but he hesitates—“If you will go with me, I will go.” Truth: Faithful leadership requires courage rooted in God’s word, not comfort in companionship.

What is God calling you to? Where should you be leading?

Husband

provision

protection

principles

Father

training

transparency

Politics / Profession

aware

able

What is causing you to hesitate?

Fear

Fatigue

Flesh

Joshua 1:9 “9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

1 Corinthians 16:13 “13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

Quote: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in spite of it.” – General George S. Patton

Illustration: A firefighter never waits for the flames to go out before running into a burning building — his courage isn’t found in comfort, but in duty. Barak waited for certainty before moving, but real leadership trusts God’s command even when the fire’s still raging.

Application: Men of faith must act on what God has already spoken. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Men of God, don’t wait for everything to feel safe before obeying God’s call. Courage isn’t found in calm situations — it’s forged in obedience under pressure.

When men fail to lead God will still accomplish His purposes.

Judges 4:9 “9 And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”…

Observation: Barak’s hesitation didn’t stop God’s plan. Jael, a woman outside the army, finished the mission. God’s will marches forward — with or without us. Truth: God’s work doesn’t depend on us, but our obedience determines our part in His story.

We are experiencing a black mark in history!

What are you going to do about it?

Deacons / Elders

Discipleship

Accountability

Esther 4:14 “14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?””

Matthew 25:28 “28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”

Quote: “The graveyards are full of indispensable men.” – Charles de Gaulle

Illustration: During World War II, one general delayed an attack waiting for “perfect weather.” Another commander advanced anyway — and won the battle. One of the men was Bernard Mongomery the other was George Patton. When God calls, hesitation only writes you out of the victory story.

Application: If we refuse to step up — in our homes, in our church, in our generation — God will still move. But we’ll miss the joy and honor of being part of His victory. Don’t let fear make you a footnote in God’s victory.

Godly women are vital partners in Gods mission.

Judges 4:4 “4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.”

Judges 4:21 “21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.”

Observation: Deborah and Jael filled in where Barak lacked… Deborah’s wisdom and Jael’s courage advanced God’s mission. They weren’t replacements — they were faithful partners used by God when others hesitated. Truth: When men and women serve God together, the mission of God moves forward in strength.

What roles should a woman have in the church?

Teaching / Discipleship

women / children

Exclusions

Elders / Deacons

If men are not leading what should women do?

Romans 16:1–2 “1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”

Acts 2:17 “17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;”

Titus 2:3–5 “3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

1 Corinthians 12:22 “22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,”

Quote: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” - Adam

Application: The Church flourishes when men lead boldly and women serve humbly, each using their gifts in unity. God’s mission is a partnership, not a competition. Together, we reflect the fullness of God’s design.

True victory comes through faith not position.

Judges 4:7 “7 And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?””

Judges 4:14 “14 And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.”

Judges 4:23 “23 So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel.”

Observation: After the battle, Deborah and Barak sing. The focus isn’t on who got the credit — it’s on Who gave the victory. Truth: Leadership is not about rank or recognition — it’s about faith that acts when others freeze.

Men are to lead one another boldly in gentle and humble servanthood through faith toward godliness.

Women are to support and help leadership by bold faith filled encouragement toward godliness.

Psalm 20:7 “7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Isaiah 33:22 “22 For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.”

Zephaniah 3:17 “17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Quote: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Illustration: David was a shepherd boy with no title when he faced Goliath. The king had armor; David had faith. The king stayed seated; David stepped forward. God gave victory to the one who believed, not the one who merely held the position.

Application: True spiritual victory isn’t measured by applause, titles, or power — it’s measured by obedience and faith. God honors those who trust Him enough to act.

The story ends with a song — a victory song. Deborah and Barak sing, not about their power, but about the God who fought for them.

And the last line of that song still echoes across the ages:

Judges 5:31 “31 “So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years.”

That’s God’s vision for His people — men who rise like the sun, shining with courage and conviction because they trust in the Lord.

Men, the world doesn’t need louder opinions. It needs stronger obedience. It doesn’t need perfect leaders — it needs present and persistent ones. When you step up to lead your home, your church, your generation in faith, you reflect the heart of Christ — the One who led not in pride, but by sacrifice.

So let’s be men who rise up when others hesitate. Let’s be a church that sings of God’s victories, not our own. And when the story of our generation is told, may it be said —

Hebrews 10:39 “39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Small Group Questions

What are some areas in your life where you’ve hesitated to act because of fear or uncertainty? How does Barak’s story challenge you?

Why do you think people often wait for reassurance before obeying God? How can we train ourselves to step out in faith even when it’s uncomfortable?

Judges 4–5 shows that God’s plans succeed even when humans falter. How does this encourage you when you feel inadequate or afraid to lead?

Deborah and Jael played crucial roles in God’s plan. How does this challenge, confirm, or clarify your understanding of men and women partnering in ministry and service?

In what areas of your home, workplace, or community is God calling you to step up and lead?

True victory comes through faith, not title or position. How does this shift the way you view leadership in the church and in life?

How can men in particular encourage one another to step up in courage and faith? Are there ways this group can hold each other accountable?

Who are the “Deborahs” or “Jaels” in your life who have inspired you to act in faith? How have they shaped your spiritual journey?

Deborah and Barak’s song focused on God, not themselves. How do we ensure our successes and achievements bring glory to God rather than ourselves?

After reflecting on this sermon, what is one tangible step you can take this week to act in faith where you’ve been hesitant?