Women of Influence

The influence of women in America can well be the secret in winning the battle against the culture of the day that is attacking our children and destroying the biblical and moral foundation of the family, as established by the Creator.

It takes a woman to influence her children and husband with the truth, wisdom, and discernment she carries to keep her home strong against the attacks of the enemy that is trying to break her family apart. When a woman stands strong for her nation and speaks boldly according to the Word of God, she will inspire the men of that nation to fight the battle for truth and freedom.

One of those examples is Deborah who was called by God to serve in judging the nation of Israel in a time where the faith of God’s people depended on the presence of a judge who upheld God’s law. When there was no judge, there was no law… and without law and order the nation would fall into depravity, sin, and lawlessness.

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, 'Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?' And Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!' So she said, 'I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.' Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. – Judges 4:4-9

As the story unfolds a great victory came to the nation because of the influence of Deborah to persuade, and call, Barak to obey God’s instruction to defeat Sisera the captain of the army that was oppressing Israel under King Jabin of the Canaanites. The influence of Deborah changed the atmosphere of an entire nation from captivity to complete freedom and restoration. Her influence came as a result of her deep relationship with God. Deborah knew what God had told Barak and she reminded him of the promise of victory over the enemy.

Influence is best defined as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, and behavior of others. Influence can impact an entire household, a community, and a nation.

The influence of Deborah was so powerful that a warrior like Barak would not go unless she went with him (see verse 8).

However the next statement by Deborah is even more powerful and prophetic as she mentions the defeat of Sisera in the hand of a woman. That other woman was Jael:

Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a nail of the tent, and took a 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. 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. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. – Judges 4:21-23

An entire nation began to prosper after this great victory at the hand of a woman. We find some interesting conclusions about Deborah. This is also a calling for the Deborahs and Jaels in America to do the same for our country.

God is calling the Deborahs and Jaels in America to:

• Call upon the men in our nation, reminding them to stand up and serve God in total obedience to His Word.
• Inspire others as they run to the battlefield, boldly and courageously standing firm in their faith and values.
• Hold the hammers of justice and strength with the nails of truth, that they may defeat this culture of bondage and immorality within our nation.
• Lead this nation from sorrow and mourning to a new song of praise and victory, as Judges 5 records, through the victory song of praise sung by Deborah and Barak.

Women of God in America…

It is time for us to rise.

It's time for us to stand strong and speak truth with courage and discernment.

It’s time for us to leverage our influence and remind this nation that we are one nation under God.

It’s time for us to raise up a new generation of godly influencers in America.

It’s time for the modern day Deborahs and Jaels of this nation to be heard.