Consider this:
. There are numerous Chruch Groups/Denominations that teach the writings of the Apostle Paul concerning women. For the purpose of this Article, I am taking the position that their teachings are true and Biblical (my personal thoughts not withstanding).
HOW QUICKLY THEY FORGET:
Women in Scripture
(Part 1)
The Prophetess Deborah.
(2654 - 2694)
The Prophetess Deborah was the fourth of the Judges who ruled over Israel. She is one of the seven Prhopetesses whose prophecies are recorded in the Bible. Deborah lived in the Mountains of Ephraim, between Ramah and Beth-El, where she held Court under a Palm Tree. The entire Jewish nation respected this great prophetess.
The wisest of the Elders of Israel explained that she sat under a palm-tree to show to the world that the Jewish people was all united and turning their eyes again to G‑d, like the leaves of the palm turn upward together, towards heaven. It was fortunate that Deborah had such a tremendous influence. For even the strongest and noblest of the men of those days had given up hope of turning the tide against the Canaanites' oppression and idolatry.
When Deborah was sure that the people of Israel had truly returned to God, she sent for Barak. Barak was the most influential man in Israel at that time. Deborah instructed him to raise an Army of 10,000 men, and gather them at the foot of Mount Tabor.
Barak was to lead his Army against the Canaanites to free Israel from their oppression. Barak refused to attack the Canaanite Army unless Debora when with him. He believed that only with the help of God, and the inspiration of Deborah would his Army have any chance of defeating the Canaanite Army.
Beause of his lack of faith, Deborah told him that she would go, but that the glory of the Victory over the Canaanite Army would not be his, but would fall upon a woman (Jael). It was Jael who actually slew Sisera (the leader of the Canaanite Army) by luring him into her tent where she fed him and gave him wine to drink. When he fell asleep, she drove a tent spike through his temple killing this evil man who had caused so much horror for the Nation of Israel.
Deboras prophecy came true because it was Jael that received all the glory for the victory, and Deborah even glorified Jael in the "Song of Deborah."
In the end, Debora's goal was accomplished and she and Barak led the Jews through fourty years of peace. All that Deborah accomplished was through the direct leadership and blessing of God!
This Story of Deborah is recored in the Book of Judges, Chapter 4, King James Bible.
4) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5) And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6) And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
7) And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
8) And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
9) And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10) And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
11) Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
12) And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
13) And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
14) And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15) And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16) But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
17) Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet 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 went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
19) And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20) Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
21) Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
22) And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
23) So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
24) And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
My take from this Story of the Prophetess Deborah is that God was quite willing for a woman to have authority over men, and to be a leader of the Jewish Nation! God Himself chose Deborah, and God Himself blessed Deborah and her leadership over the Jews.
p.rehbein