Cheryl Schatz

Paula,
Yes, the thought that Deborah would be something bad given because of disobedient men just doesn’t fit.  The writer’s words even contradict himself.

Don,
As usual when you disagree you do is so agreeably.  Good job!

I do not see Barak as weak in faith in the least.  One, because scripture doesn’t tell us that his request was because of weak faith.  Hebrews lists him as a great man of faith.  Secondly Deborah doesn’t chide him for weak faith but warns him that if she goes into battle (as the other Judges have done and which she can do because she did) she will get the full glory when she was willing to share the glory with him.  I see Deborah’s actions as being respectful to Barak’s position and willing to share the glory of the deliverance with him.  She had the right to do that if she wanted.  But Barak’s request to have her by his side, proves to me that he sees her as God’s “man” of the hour and he gives her equal honor as he would any male leader.  In this I see Barak as a true egalitarian with no huge male ego.

I see this because scripture does not list Barak’s sin and I do not want to attribute a bad motive to someone’s heart unless God makes it clear.  Deborah chose to Judge a little differently than the other Judges and as a woman myself, I believe her heart (she was called a “mother” of Israel) showed that she was willing to respect the male ego and take her Judging outside the male territory and under a tree, and her going into battle to give Israel deliverance was willingness to share the deliverance with a subordinate male leader.  In this I give both Deborah much credit for her understanding of the male ego and Barak much credit for his unashamed egalitarianism.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.  I think this way of thinking makes the scriptures fit in both Judges and Hebrews.  Also understanding things this way would also make me list Barak as a great man of faith.  Thinking of it any other way would make me give Barak a miss.