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A Judge Called Deborah
In a day when the culture dictated that women were to be seen and not heard, God raised up a woman with the faith, wisdom and courage to lead her people as a judge over Israel. After settling in the Promised Land, the people of Israel repeatedly turned their backs on God and went their own way. But by His grace, God mercifully responded to His people’s cries for help by raising up judges to lead His people back to Him. This is the story of one of those judges — the one called Deborah. Discover the heart and character of this one God called and used to bring peace to His chosen people. Explore her story and the story of the times in which she lived — the portion you may already know … and the rest of the story that could have been.
184 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 29, 2022
A story about Deborah, fleshed out from the Biblical account, to make the story flow better.
Deborah is one of my favorite characters from the Bible. The author hints that tribal judges were handed down by primogenitor, but I have always believed God calls and equips people for that position - perhaps several of them at a time, finally putting into place the person who obeys Him and gives Him the glory due His name, and acts as a conduit for His wisdom to be disseminated to His people, seeking no glory for themselves but setting limits on the behaviors of others as necessary.
The way Deborah and Lappidoth are fleshed out in the book makes me wonder if someone in the author's life had a marriage like mine. I was a tomboy - hated playing with dolls or playing girly games, couldn't stand makeup, doing my hair, or doing my nails, and so gravitated more towards play with boys. I was at college when I met my husband. I was dating a different young man who introduced me to his 5 guy friends, and we played games together when we weren't studying. My husband was, at the time, pretty sure he would marry someone else, so although I liked him, I liked all of them, and we kept things as a friendship among the 6 of us. It would be 2 years before he would approach me and say he loved me and ask if I could consider loving him in return, and I said that I already did. Where I was the daring one who would try almost anything once, he was more cautious. Yet he always encouraged me to reach my full God given potential (as I did for him). And when things went wrong, as in Deborah's case, he was there when the ground shifted under my feet, protecting and reassuring me. Gentle and kind generally - but with a backbone of steel when it came to the difference between right and wrong - he is still my mainstay after 49 years of marriage. And he says I am his as well. But both of us know, and acknowledge, that wouldn't be possible if God was not the mainstay for both of us. God must be first in all, including marriage, for anything to work out in life, including survivng setbacks that all of us have in life. What the author has painted with his pen thus almost seems like he has seen our marriage.
So it was that the book became more relevant to me than perhaps it might be to others. An appreciation that God can make people any way He wants them to be and use them regardless of the people in churches shouting about how sinful it is for a woman to have interests normally attributable to men (and thus, IMO, helping drive men away from the church where their wives are insulted for being the way God made them). By default, the accusation is that if a man doesn't stop his wife from being different, he is a wimp, not a man obedient to God's calling on his own life - again, enough to drive a man out of the church. Back then, I doubt it was much different, except for those who went after false gods. Having been involved in the occult at one time, I can tell you the biggest draw for women is that they're seen as equal to men, possibly even superior, in their abilities to wield supernatural powers, where many Christian churches have lumped women into a "proverbs 31" role the way THEY see that role, not the way it is actually written in Proverbs, where the woman is a businesswoman who buys, plants, and reaps the harvest of her own fields, weaves her own cloth, and manages a staff of household workers since it is implied that she is the wife of a wealthy man, and his partner on business on the household management side.
There is another thing on play, and that is the number of men obedient to God who were available, ready, willing, and able to heed God and give Him all the glory at the time when God called Deborah, the only one who had prepared herself to say yes.
The character of Jael as fleshed out by the author is definitely possible, but I believe it is more likely that Sisera has never seen her before. But she knew the risks. She was alone. There was a man of obvious military bearing likely ogling her as if she were a slab of beef. The obvious cure was to feed him first- let him pig out so he got dopey, or as some would say, give him "the itis," that sleepiness when you pig out and you're already tired. Top it off with a glass of milk - perhaps with a little something added to help him sleep - and reassure him you'll be there when he wakens. She didn't need to be a victim of his before that to know she would be a victim now unless she could get him knocked out enough to use the tent peg and hammer to make sure he never woke up. Armies are pretty well known for raping a conquered people, and I think long ago that rape should have been equated with murder, since it is a soul killing experience. But even in the Bible, the penalties for rape were things like making the man who raped the woman marry her. Just what a woman needs - to be married to her rapist. I have several questions I want to ask God someday and that is right up there with asking why people who hate, neglect, or abuse kids are never infertile, but people who love kids are so often unable to have their own, and adoption is seen as an evil today. Women who will abort one baby after another instead of using birth control should have their fertility given to someone who would love and care for the child. So that's the second question. God promises when we are with Him we will know as we are known, and we are very thoroughly known.
Again, the overall reading difficulty is maybe early middle school or late elementary school. It is a bit slow for me, but would be a great option for those learning English as a 2nd language or those in remedial classes, for reading practice. Women especially would enjoy this tale of a woman used of God because she gave Him all the glory, even though it is based on the Old Testament of the Bible.
Deborah is one of my favorite characters from the Bible. The author hints that tribal judges were handed down by primogenitor, but I have always believed God calls and equips people for that position - perhaps several of them at a time, finally putting into place the person who obeys Him and gives Him the glory due His name, and acts as a conduit for His wisdom to be disseminated to His people, seeking no glory for themselves but setting limits on the behaviors of others as necessary.
The way Deborah and Lappidoth are fleshed out in the book makes me wonder if someone in the author's life had a marriage like mine. I was a tomboy - hated playing with dolls or playing girly games, couldn't stand makeup, doing my hair, or doing my nails, and so gravitated more towards play with boys. I was at college when I met my husband. I was dating a different young man who introduced me to his 5 guy friends, and we played games together when we weren't studying. My husband was, at the time, pretty sure he would marry someone else, so although I liked him, I liked all of them, and we kept things as a friendship among the 6 of us. It would be 2 years before he would approach me and say he loved me and ask if I could consider loving him in return, and I said that I already did. Where I was the daring one who would try almost anything once, he was more cautious. Yet he always encouraged me to reach my full God given potential (as I did for him). And when things went wrong, as in Deborah's case, he was there when the ground shifted under my feet, protecting and reassuring me. Gentle and kind generally - but with a backbone of steel when it came to the difference between right and wrong - he is still my mainstay after 49 years of marriage. And he says I am his as well. But both of us know, and acknowledge, that wouldn't be possible if God was not the mainstay for both of us. God must be first in all, including marriage, for anything to work out in life, including survivng setbacks that all of us have in life. What the author has painted with his pen thus almost seems like he has seen our marriage.
So it was that the book became more relevant to me than perhaps it might be to others. An appreciation that God can make people any way He wants them to be and use them regardless of the people in churches shouting about how sinful it is for a woman to have interests normally attributable to men (and thus, IMO, helping drive men away from the church where their wives are insulted for being the way God made them). By default, the accusation is that if a man doesn't stop his wife from being different, he is a wimp, not a man obedient to God's calling on his own life - again, enough to drive a man out of the church. Back then, I doubt it was much different, except for those who went after false gods. Having been involved in the occult at one time, I can tell you the biggest draw for women is that they're seen as equal to men, possibly even superior, in their abilities to wield supernatural powers, where many Christian churches have lumped women into a "proverbs 31" role the way THEY see that role, not the way it is actually written in Proverbs, where the woman is a businesswoman who buys, plants, and reaps the harvest of her own fields, weaves her own cloth, and manages a staff of household workers since it is implied that she is the wife of a wealthy man, and his partner on business on the household management side.
There is another thing on play, and that is the number of men obedient to God who were available, ready, willing, and able to heed God and give Him all the glory at the time when God called Deborah, the only one who had prepared herself to say yes.
The character of Jael as fleshed out by the author is definitely possible, but I believe it is more likely that Sisera has never seen her before. But she knew the risks. She was alone. There was a man of obvious military bearing likely ogling her as if she were a slab of beef. The obvious cure was to feed him first- let him pig out so he got dopey, or as some would say, give him "the itis," that sleepiness when you pig out and you're already tired. Top it off with a glass of milk - perhaps with a little something added to help him sleep - and reassure him you'll be there when he wakens. She didn't need to be a victim of his before that to know she would be a victim now unless she could get him knocked out enough to use the tent peg and hammer to make sure he never woke up. Armies are pretty well known for raping a conquered people, and I think long ago that rape should have been equated with murder, since it is a soul killing experience. But even in the Bible, the penalties for rape were things like making the man who raped the woman marry her. Just what a woman needs - to be married to her rapist. I have several questions I want to ask God someday and that is right up there with asking why people who hate, neglect, or abuse kids are never infertile, but people who love kids are so often unable to have their own, and adoption is seen as an evil today. Women who will abort one baby after another instead of using birth control should have their fertility given to someone who would love and care for the child. So that's the second question. God promises when we are with Him we will know as we are known, and we are very thoroughly known.
Again, the overall reading difficulty is maybe early middle school or late elementary school. It is a bit slow for me, but would be a great option for those learning English as a 2nd language or those in remedial classes, for reading practice. Women especially would enjoy this tale of a woman used of God because she gave Him all the glory, even though it is based on the Old Testament of the Bible.
June 8, 2022
Kind of disappointing
I loved the other books, but not this one as much. Which was disappointing because I was really looking forward to the story of Deborah! There was more info on the previous judges and history/background then Deborah’s story. I know we needed some background but it was a lot. It was still a good story but….I wish it was more about Deborah!
I loved the other books, but not this one as much. Which was disappointing because I was really looking forward to the story of Deborah! There was more info on the previous judges and history/background then Deborah’s story. I know we needed some background but it was a lot. It was still a good story but….I wish it was more about Deborah!
January 27, 2024
inspirational
I am enjoying these character novellas by Kenneth Winter. They are well written and inspiring and I shall continue to recommend them as a very useful insight into the significant people called by God to make a difference in their times, consequently inspiring us to make a difference in our current times
I am enjoying these character novellas by Kenneth Winter. They are well written and inspiring and I shall continue to recommend them as a very useful insight into the significant people called by God to make a difference in their times, consequently inspiring us to make a difference in our current times
August 16, 2022
Deborah Revealed
The story helps the reader relate to Deborah as a real person not just a historical biblical character. Daughter, Wife, Mother, Citizen, Descendant of Isreal and one who worships the God of Isreal.
The story helps the reader relate to Deborah as a real person not just a historical biblical character. Daughter, Wife, Mother, Citizen, Descendant of Isreal and one who worships the God of Isreal.
December 27, 2023
A Judge called Deborah
I am enjoying the writings of Kenneth Winter. I feel that he is inspired by the Holy Spirit as he writes. This is the fourth book in The Called series. They are blessing my life!!!!
I am enjoying the writings of Kenneth Winter. I feel that he is inspired by the Holy Spirit as he writes. This is the fourth book in The Called series. They are blessing my life!!!!
February 19, 2024
Very enjoyable!
I appreciate this book very much much. While the biblical accounts of Deborah and Jael leave a lot of questions, the suppositions are very interesting to think on.
I appreciate this book very much much. While the biblical accounts of Deborah and Jael leave a lot of questions, the suppositions are very interesting to think on.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews