Famous Women in the Bible

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite….

Judges 4:17

Peace symbolizes an intangible tranquility of calmness and serenity. Yet, how can one find peace   Deborah, a prophetess and judge for Israel, rallied the troops to attack General Sisera and his army of iron chariots. Whereas, Jael served as the executioner. Under the leadership of Deborah, Barak led the troops to Mount Tabor to prepare for battle. In the meantime, Heber the Kenite informed General Sisera the location of Israel army; however, unbeknownst to General Sisera, his 900 iron chariots, was about to face God in an army of 10,000 Israelites. As Israel army descended off Mount Tabor under a surprised ambush which lead to a ferocious encounter, the narrative in Judges 4:15 relates it as “the Lord discomfited Sisera.” This phase meant that Sisera became disoriented and ran away speedily. After much running, he found his de facto ally at the house of Heber.  Hint, Heber is a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law. Yet, Heber’s wife, Jael, became the focal point to climax this victory for God. I believe if we interviewed Jael about her encounter with General Sisera, her story will unfold as follows:
when sinful behavior ranges in one’s life? In Book of Judges one will find individuals who allow sin to disrupt their lives, and then they will cry out for God to restore peace. One particular passage in Judges (chapters 4-5) demonstrates how God used two women (Jael and Deborah) to defeat Israel’s enemy and restore peace.

I am that woman of whom Deborah prophesied that Sisera would be handed over to a woman. General Sierra was an enemy of Israel. He served as commander of the Canaanite army which consisted of 900 iron chariots. He had a bad reputation; he was a zealous oppressor toward the Israelite for 20 years. Remember, my ancestor, Zipporah was united with Moses, the deliverer of Israel from Egypt. Amazingly, the Scripture does not portray me as one of the bad girls. Yet, Deborah’s song of praise pictured me as a heroine. Yes, my action was gruesome and shocking, but I was only doing what Yahweh commissioned, the God of Israel wanted to deliver His people again from another oppressor, King Hazor. I recalled the story like this.

General Sierra came to my husband’s camp looking for refuge, a safe haven to hide since his 900 chariots were no longer a threat among my kinsmen. For my understanding, his army had suffered a brutal defeat just below Mount Tabor. There, I was standing in the doorway of the tent welcoming him to come and rest from running. He entered the tent tired and thirsty. He asked for water, but I graciously went above the usual hospitality and gave him warm milk instead.  I prepared a pallet for him to rest comfortably. Like any tired soldier, he went to sleep. At that moment when he was defenseless, I felt a passion for my ancestor, Zipporah and knew that I must end this torment for her people. So I grabbed a tent peg in my left hand and mallet in my right hand. I placed that peg right into his temple and drove it into his skull by hammering repeatedly. I nailed that peg so deep that it touched the ground through his skull. Little did I know that his life would end the same day that Deborah, the prophetess, prophesied! 

Please know that I am a woman of honor, make no mistakes about it. I am not the one that you can mess over especially my kindred. Yet, I am gentle, giving, fervent in spirit, and some even call me “most blessed of women.” I do have a mind of my own, though. Just like the Savior’s mother, Mary, we are the only two women in the Scripture with this description, “blessed above women.” Like Mary, I too became a willing vessel that Yahweh used to accomplish His deliverance for His people. Even though, my action was brutal and furious; I am genuine in character despite my method of redemption for God’s people.

I want you to remember these key points from this episode:

1)     God can use anyone, even the average woman

2)     Become fearless and break traditions

3)     Use the tools right by your disposal

4)     God’s time is now

5)     Act on the opportunities

6)     Allow God to use you

Safety and trust only occur when you find yourself in God’s hand.  Because of Jael’s lion-hearty act, Israel experienced 40 years of peace. Likewise, when you obey and trust God, you too can become a blessed woman of God while experiencing peace.  

By Debra Baker

My Wife

Check out the song mentioned in Judge 5 about these two characters by Rev P Under the Influence:

Deborah, my favorite Biblical woman

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.

Judges 4:8

Deborah the wife of Lappidoth was a wise and courageous judge of Israel. She was known for her wisdom. She was the only woman of the Bible who gained renown on her own merit, instead of her relationship to a man. Deborah’s vision was shaped by her relationship in GOD. Like the patriarch of Israel, one must hear GOD and believe GOD, then that person will acquire the courage to overcome oppression. Likewise, Deborah demonstrated these qualities and became a remarkable judge and a prophetess. Her courage aroused the people and led them in a victory procession of peace. Later, she even described herself as a “mother in Israel.” 



Having received instruction from God, Deborah summoned an Israelite warrior named Barak. Barak was Deborah’s protégé, her second in command and his name means lightening, Yet, Barak would not strike until he was ignited by Deborah’s power. Barak’s response when ordered by Deborah into battle demonstrates his discomfort. Notice “if you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go.” (Judges 4:8) So Deborah agreed to enter the battle with the troops by his side. Although, she informed Barak, “However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, because the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4:9) Deborah joined the troops in battle,  led Israel out of idolatry, and restored their dignity as God chosen people.

Barak had hesitated faith. For instance, in response to God’s command, he said, “I’ll obey if…” Yet, Deborah did not abandon Barak for his hesitated faith. Rather, she accompanied him and gave him the strength to accomplish God’s purpose. 

Finally, this Bible story provides us a great example of a man and woman partnering as they obeyed the command of God. Their outcome enabled the Israelite warriors to win the battle! All the troops of Sisera fell by their sword; not a man was left. Deborah’s courage and wisdom in calling up an army to break Hazor’s control gave the Israelites 40 years of peace. Deborah’s peace and confidence as a leader stemmed in part from her ability to hear God clearly.

Deborah's undertaking makes her my favorite and reminds me the following lesson learned:

1) Trust in God’s Word

2) Be of good courage

3) Wise leaders surround themselves with the right people

4) We must be concern about people, not just our success

5) Acknowledged that all the glory belongs to God

By Gwendolyn Player

(My Consin)

Ruth Journey of Love

And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:                                                         Ruth 1:16

Photo by Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash

These words are often quoted in special ceremonies as a display of love. Yet, it came from a Moabite woman instead of a profound patriotic like Moses or David. Notice the satire because the Moabites were enemies of the Israelites. Although, one can easily trace their origin to Lot, Abraham's nephew; yet, they eventually became enemies. For instance, when the Israelites left Egypt, King Balak (Moabite) wanted the prophet, Balaam to curse the Israelites. Instead of cursing, Balaam blessed them. Ironically, this Scripture setting occurs during the period of the Judges of which every Israelite acted within his or her self-interest (Judges 21:25). So God used a Moabite to demonstrate the meaning of selfless love and placed Ruth in the lineage of the Savior.


Oftentimes, I hear many of my single colleague state that “I am waiting for my Boaz.” However, even before Boaz entered the picture, Ruth’s words alone exhibits love that was so devoted that she willingly forsake all to comfort someone else. For such a display of love to unfold, I tend to think it originates from reciprocity which creates a mutual dependency instead of a selfish intent. In other words, love must become equally shared between two individuals.  Before Ruth said these words, she experienced the same love from Naomi. For instance, Naomi’s demonstration of love to her two daughter-in-laws actually caused them to follow her back to Bethlehem. Repeatedly, we tend to demonstrate love conditionally as determine by the value or the usefulness of what you will receive. For example, how many times have you heard, "if you love me you will do this or that," or after something negative occurs someone will say, "I thought you loved me?" These examples demonstrate the profit of love accordingly to the expected outcome without valuing the worthiness of the giver.  Yet, Ruth's words focus on the receiver while removing any selfish benefits.


First, Ruth pleas with Naomi to accompany her even after repeated discouragement from Naomi.  Secondly, Ruth places emphasis on the journey, despite the distance, “I am going with you.” Thirdly, Ruth noted the importance of sustainment by stating the requirement for lodging. Thus, the significance of lodging enables one to acquire shelter from the natural elements including predators. Mainly, Ruth commits to the natural realm; and then she implies her willingness to join Naomi on her spiritual return to her culture. "Your people shall be my people, and thy God my God." This phase alone demonstrates her commitment to embrace Naomi’s way of life instead of her Moabites intricacies. Finally, Ruth shifts her total attention on her mother-in-law. Such a responsibility usually rests on the males of the family, and since there remains no males, Ruth became Naomi’s provider.

What an awesome demonstration of selfless love! How many of us have demonstrated such love to our love ones? How many of us tend to remove our selfish intention just to love another? How many of us realize the commitment to both the physical and spiritual journey of someone else? So the next time you hear the words, I love you, think about Ruth instead of waiting for your Boaz.

Money and Sea

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go you to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first comes up; and when you have opened his mouth, you shall find a piece of money: that take, and give to them for me and you. (Matthew 17:27)

While sitting on the beach at St Kitts, I reflected on this Scripture which reminds me that even the sea can give you money when you have an obligation to render. Yet, this Scripture unfolds the process of obligations from the Jewish tradition of paying the Temple tax from patrons. When Peter entered the city of Capernaum, he was approached by tax collectors who questioned if his master plans to pay the usual temple tax. Evidently, Peter agreed to pay this tax because the conversation with the Savior revealed a question alluding to the tradition of paying taxes.     

…And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, what thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Matthew 17:25 KJV

This dialogue makes a very important point about obligations. The obligator who obligates a payee must reflect on the benefits of the obligations to receive payment. So when the Savior questioned Peter, who has already obligated the payment of taxes for his master, responded with a favorable answer to satisfy his obligation. The Savior's question inquired for whom pay the king, his subjects or his children. This question allows you to resonate on the benefits instead of the payment of the obligation. Benefits constrain you toward honoring the obligation. For instance, as subjects of the king, you will receive benefits from the kings’ realm such as protection and security both physical and economical when transaction business within the kingdom. So the Savior reminded Peter who should pay taxes - the ones who will benefit from the payment while implying that the children are the recipients of the taxes. Of course, the ones who will benefit the most should pay the taxes. Today, we constantly face similar obligations when the obligator requests payment of an obligation even when the payee realizes only limited benefits exist. 

Yet, the Savior encouraged the payment of Peter's obligation just to avoid offending the tax collectors even though He is LORD over the Temple. How many times the Savior will rescue a believer who makes poor choices with everyday transactions? How often do you here this comment reflecting poor choices, “if you make your bed hard you must lie in that bed.”  However, the Savior provided a different response to Peter‘s choice to pay the Temple tax. The Savior's direction to Peter is as follows:

”..go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” Matthew 17:27 NKJV

Realize that even the Savior who is LORD of the Temple submitted to the same obligations as others and willingly made provision to pay this tax. Likewise, when we make poor choices, the Savior always create opportunities to honor our obligations. Don’t renege on your obligation which will cause offense. Yet, when you honor your obligations like Peter, you will become amazed how your common lively hood can create more that you can imagine. Peter’s skill set of fishing enabled him to catch the right fish, receive the right coin which was enough to pay the Temple taxes. The lesson learned from money and sea reminds me that instead of waiting for money to come from other means, look within my common skill set for opportunities to fulfill my obligations

What are we really passing to our children?

A friend proposed this question the other day that made me resonate on my priorities as a parent. In light of what we see in our society, have we taught and passed on to our children the social skills and people's insights necessary to navigate life? And do they understand them so that they can be passed on to their children or is that even necessary?

As we become mature, we often ponder significant memories to determine their meaningfulness. Yet, the legacy of one's life leaves us with unforgettable memories that have a far reaching affect as we venture into uncharted territories of life. For instance, how often do you hear this comment when a child behaves like his parent, "he is just like his father" or "the apple does not fall far from the tree"?

In 2015, I was attending a True Growth Leadership conference at Fort Leavenworth of which my homework assignment on this night consisted of writing down my crucibles/experiences and then grasp lessons that I learned from each. As I recalled the death of my father, I found myself crying profusely. I was remembering certain events of my life and realizing that I will never see him again. At that moment of realization I re-evaluated my priorities. This exercise of evaluating my crucibles and experiences was to create my life values and a purpose. Yet, this thought provoking exercise allowed me to realize the value of having a father who provided me a true blueprint for life. While my mind flooded with memories, I noticed that each crucible uncovered a lesson learned more than my successes. This exploration of each memory led to a common conversation of which my father reminded me over and over when I failed. “Athletes are not born but are made. If athletes were born, you will be one since your mother and father were all-state players, but athletes are made. So you must put the work in your game.” As my basketball coach in high school, when I failed to perform as expected he reminded me that I lacked the birthrights for success so I must work toward success. Oh, how I missed his candid way of saying things just to make me work harder. These crucibles enabled me to recognize that my father’s values had formulated my success in all areas of my life. Whether educationally, spiritually, socially, and mentally, I am who I am today, all reflected from his values. So I decided that my core purpose in life will consists of seeking perpetual optimism through innovative ways in helping others. His example as an educator/coach left an impact on many of his former students who claimed that “your father was like a father to me” or “if your father didn’t intervene in my irresponsible behavior, I have no clue where I will be now.” These meaningful comments inspired me to become that liked apple from his tree. By experiencing his values I recognized the need to continue his legacy with my particular values. 

1) Observant of Opportunities 

2) Stay mentally stimulated 

3) Just Do It 

4) Think Favorably 

5) Servant Attitude

Observant of opportunities infuses ones’ willingness to engage opportunities beyond the norms. Oftentimes individuals become too focus on self-advancement without realizing opportunities can materialize from unlikely sources. Usually, an opportunist has a negative connotation because he takes advantage of any situation to improve self. However, I desire to seek opportunities to serve. Staying mentally stimulated creates innovation. Thus, innovation allows one to take risk through opportunities leading to the motto - Just Do It. These three values occur simultaneously when I think favorably with a servant attitude while understanding that life is more than self-gain but an opportunity to give. The Scripture emphasizes this same process using the ingredient of love.

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Ephesians 5:1–2 MSG

Therefore, a parent who provides the necessary know-how for his child to navigate through life really reflects on the parent’s purpose in life. If the parent decision-making process resembles a selfish (me-first) mentality then his child will emulate the same while enabling a narcissistic mindset. Whereas, the parent who lives a purpose driven life inclusive of love toward others, his child will imitate the same qualities. This child will manage to navigate through life with insightfulness and significance while passing the same legacy for the next generation. Mainly, the behavior of the parent necessitates the truthfulness about life and the worthiness of passing similar traits. My best analogy of this process is that the apple always falls right under the apple tree.

Known by God

“What if we begin to center all conversation about love and sexuality on Agape as the wellspring and the beingness of all relational authenticity and respect? What if we reject Eros as false, as the objectification of the other for the erotic encounter in which the self is served? What if Agape is the ground of all authentic face-to-face intimacy, sexual and otherwise, and is a celebration of the flow of other-centered, self-giving love? Then knowing and being known make sense, and the depths of authentic relationship become essential to sexual expression.”   

By William Paul Young in Lies We Believe About God.

I totally agree with the author, William Young that as sin-prong humans we tend to think that God focuses more on decorum rather than our ability to establish an intimate relationship with Him. We think that God desires performance as an appearance of righteousness instead of reflecting on our innate ability to love. Even the Savior emphasized the ability to truly love when questioned about which commandment is the greatest by stating, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37 KJV) What if we place our center of gravity on loving God instead of selfish itinerary that takes us further and further from our true divine purpose? Intimacy will drive us to spend more than a few hours of worship on Sunday and an hour or two on Wednesday night. Intimacy will move us toward an understanding of God’s existence in our current lives and shift us to comprehend our relationship with Him from an eternal realm perspective. For instance, William Young in his writing (Lies We Believe About God) described God as PERICHORESIS which means mutual interpenetration without loss of any individual person. Therefore, PERICHORESIS represents the nature of God as Three Persons in complete Oneness. Likewise, as beings created in the image of this oneness, we, too, can enable our ability of completeness by surrendering to intimacy with our Creator, simultaneously retaining our individuality or uniqueness.  Subsequently, this surrendering allows us to remain who we are without rendering to self-centeredness, leading to selfish intent. In other words, we can forfeit the “me, myself, and I” syndrome, and forsake the need to acquire everything with an unwillingness to share. Yet, intimacy with God will give us the ability to share the same intimacy with others. Then once we reach this state of completeness we will grasp the true meaning of "Then shall I know even as also I am known." (I Corinthians 13:12)

by Brina Baker