What Makes A Good Leader? - Tell Her Story

Ericka Graham shares the story of Deborah and Jael and invites us to reimagine how we view leadership and authority. These powerful women in Scripture teach us a lot about collaboration, humility & strength.

Scripture & References

Judges 4:3-10

The people of Israel cried out to the Eternal again for help. Since Sisera had 900 iron chariots, he prevailed against and oppressed the Israelites for 20 years.

These iron chariots are an especially potent assault vehicle against the Israelites on the plains, but not as much in mountainous regions.

4 At that time, Deborah the prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, served as judge over Israel. 5 She used to sit beneath the palm tree of Deborah, situated in the hill country of Ephraim between Ramah and Bethel, and the people would go up to her there to settle disputes. 6 She urgently sent for Barak, the son of Abinoam, out of Kedesh-naphtali.

Deborah: The Eternal God of Israel commands you: “Go and get into position near Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 soldiers from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. 7 I will draw out Sisera, Jabin’s general, to meet you at the wadi Kishon with his chariots and his army, and I will deliver him to you.”

Barak (to Deborah): 8 I will do this if you will go with me; but if you won’t, then I won’t go either.

Deborah: 9 I will certainly go with you, but you should know from the beginning that this battle will not lead to your personal glory. The Eternal has decreed that the mighty Sisera will be defeated by a woman.

Then Deborah got up and accompanied Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak summoned the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and they sent 10,000 men to follow him. With Deborah, they went to Kedesh.

Judges 4:18-24

Jael went out to meet Sisera.

Jael: Come in, my lord, come in with me. There is nothing to be afraid of here.

So he came inside the tent with her, and she covered him with a rug just in case some of Barak’s soldiers came looking for him.

Sisera: 19 May I have a little water to drink?

He was very thirsty, so she opened a skin filled with milk and gave him a little, then covered him again.

Sisera: 20 Stand and wait at the opening to the tent. If anybody comes and asks you, “Is anyone inside?” tell them “No.”

21 Sisera fell into a deep sleep, for he was weary. Jael, the wife of Heber, took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other. She crept softly to his side. Then she drove the peg into his temple, down into the ground, and killed him.

22 When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him.

Jael: Come inside, and I will show you the man you seek.

So he went into the tent with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg driven through his head.

23 On that day, God vanquished Jabin, king of Canaan, before the people of Israel; 24 and the Israelites bore down harder and harder on him until at last Jabin, king of Canaan, was destroyed.