Matriarch's....a day late! Deborah

This lady is one who can cause quite a stir.  Woman's libber's would like you to think that she is an example of a woman in power...so that makes it ok.

I don't think it is.  I think she sends a different message altogether.

Deborah, undoubtedly was a woman of God.  She was faithful and brave and bold for Him.  Truly an example, in many, many ways.

She was close enough to the Lord, to hear His voice and give direction from Him, to those who she led.  She had a humility that indicated her reliance upon the Lord.

The lesson that I want to draw, however, is on a different tack...

Barak was appointed to lead the army.  It was his job to direct them into battle against Sisera, (and any other enemy they had).

But, he was a weak man.  He said he wouldn't go unless Deborah went with him.

He didn't have the strength and confidence to go in the Lord's strength alone.  To take on his responisbility as a man ought to.

There were consequences, however, from his weakness.

"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."

Judges 4:9

Barak, for his weakness, was not going to receive any credit for the victory that would come.  It would go down in history as a battle won by a woman.

Firstly, to the credit of Deborah, for "holding his hand" through the battle.

And, secondly, to Jael, for being the one who "nailed" the final victory.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun.....)

I have to say, that the role of Jael in it all, has never been one that I coveted or wished i could have been part of.  A TENT PEG....nailed through his HEAD?....BLEUGH.

That took quite a confident and brave woman to do that!!!!  Not me.....

So, all in all, the victory was firmly credited to the womenfolk.  Not the ones who were supposed to lead in battle.  But, they did and soundly led them to victory.

So, what of my lesson for today.

I was REALLY struck by something.  

Something we are missing in the Church today.

MEN. 

Men of God.

MEn of GOd who are willing to take a place of leadership....a place of working diligently for the Lord...of being a godly example to the young men, of how to live as a man of God.

WHERE ARE THE MEN?!?!

Is this just me?...I know it's not.  I KNOW that good, spiritually strong men are lacking in the Church today.

We, as mothers of sons, have a responsibility to raise them as men of God.  To raise them to be strong leaders.  Men who are willing to go "all out" for God in the Church of today.

We are clearly taught in the scriptures, that men should have the place of leadership and authority in the Church.  But, they have to be there, in order to do it.

It's a BLESSING to have sons.  To have sons that will one day become men...who we can raise to be mighty men for God.  Warriors in a spiritual battle against the world and spiritual decline in the Church.

Dads need to raise their sons...leading them by example. 

And, us Mums, need to diligently teach them day by day - making them into men, and not into weak little souls, who rely on the womenfolk to get things done.  With no sense of responsibility and strength, in things spiritual more than anything else. 

We need sons like Gideon...like Joshua and Caleb...like Moses...like Stephen.  Men who are willing to fight God's battle, and to even lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.

Yes, we want daughters who are willing to work for the Lord.  But we need the men.  The strong, and confident men, who will lead the Church in this day and age of decline in the Church, and in the world around us.

Just a short thought, but one that is needed, I think, nonetheless.