Leading The Way

“Very well,” [Deborah] replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges 4:9

If someone asked you to name a famous woman leader, who would you name? Would it be Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who helped lead the French in battle against England? Or maybe it would be Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. How about Deborah, one of God’s princesses in Old Testament times?

Deborah lived during the time of the judges. She would sit under a tree, and people would come to her for advice because they knew that she listened to God and was wise.

One day Deborah called for Barak, a military leader, and told him to take 10,000 men and fight against Sisera, the captain of an enemy army. Barak said he would go, but only if Deborah went into battle with him. A woman in battle was very uncommon in Bible times. Deborah agreed to go with Barak, but she told him he wouldn’t get the credit for the victory. So Deborah, along with Barak, assembled the troops and then went into battle.

Barak was not willing to lead the men into battle without Deborah, but she was ready to go into battle knowing that God was the one who would provide the victory. Deborah was strong in spirit, faith, and body, and that made her a good leader for the people. She saw what needed to be done and did it.

Are you a princess who takes charge and does what needs to be done? Are you willing to lead the way if God asks you to? You won’t lead your friends into battle, but you might lead them in a community service activity, a mission project, or another opportunity to do good. You might lead the way in getting a rule changed or added, or in starting a mentoring program for younger students at your school. If you are homeschooled, you might be the one to suggest and plan a field trip for your local homeschool group or find a way for them to be involved in the community.

Ask God to show you if he wants you to lead the way in accomplishing something for him. If he does, he’ll be with you each step of the way. Be sure to have trusted adults and good friends for support, too. Like Deborah, you can be known as someone who bravely steps out in faith.

Are there areas where God might use you to lead the way? Talk to an adult about how you can do that.