Tuesday was International Women’s Day, held every year on March 8th. The event—first celebrated in 1913—made a splash this year with its #PledgeForParity hashtag and theme “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality.” The goal of this year’s campaign focused on ending various forms of gender-based discrimination and on increasing educational equality around the world.
The event has been recognized by the United Nations since 1975. The UN describes the Day as “a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.” The UN’s involvement has fueled greater awareness for the event around the world.
Many outside the church, and some inside it, believe that the Bible belittles women and treats them as second-class citizens within the church and the culture. But numerous stories throughout the Bible present “ordinary women,” to use the UN’s words, “who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”
Among them are women like Esther, who risked her life and used her position to save her people from genocide. Women like Rahab, the prostitute who protected two Israelite spies as they scouted Jericho. Women like Ruth, an immigrant who took matters into her own hands to provide for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Both Rahab and Ruth, despite not being Jewish, became ancestors of Jesus because of their faithfulness to God.
As well, the Gospel of Luke draws our attention to specific women whom Jesus interacted with during his ministry, and even names Joanna and Susanna who financially supported Jesus’ ministry out of their own wealth. Mary, a young and obscure Jewish girl, is given the great honor of being the mother of Jesus, and she is admired for her humility, courage, and willingness to serve God. All these women play key roles in incredible stories throughout the Bible.
One more stand-out story centers around a woman named Deborah. Deborah was a judge in Israel over 3,000 years ago, a role that was otherwise only filled by men. Read about Deborah’s incredible leadership into battle as she liberated her fellow Israelites from their tyrannous oppressors.
Judges 4:1-16
The People of Israel kept right on doing evil in God’s sight. With Ehud dead, God sold them off to Jabin king of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim, was the commander of his army. The People of Israel cried out to God because he had cruelly oppressed them with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years.
Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. She held court under Deborah’s Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice.
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. I’ll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin’s army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I’ll make sure you win the battle.”
Barak said, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
She said, “Of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.”
Deborah got ready and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten companies of men followed him. And Deborah was with him.
It happened that Heber the Kenite had parted company with the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ in-law. He was now living at Zaanannim Oak near Kedesh. They told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. Sisera immediately called up all his chariots to the Kishon River—nine hundred iron chariots!—along with all his troops who were with him at Harosheth Haggoyim.
Deborah said to Barak, “Charge! This very day God has given you victory over Sisera. Isn’t God marching before you?”
Barak charged down the slopes of Mount Tabor, his ten companies following him.
God routed Sisera—all those chariots, all those troops!—before Barak. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran. Barak chased the chariots and troops all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. Sisera’s entire fighting force was killed—not one man left.