THIS IS IT

Here is the presentation we have pulled together, working collaboratively, yet virtually. I have not done any editting, simply taken what was submitted and put it in the order for the talk.

Talk: The Virtual Team

Deborah

Introduction

The Leadership of Deborah

How did she become a leader in Israel in what we regard as a very patriarchal society?
The process and means by which Deborah became a judge and a prophet are not given in Judges chapters 4 and 5. However, we can speculate that this was probably due to Deborah’s own position and status within Israelite patriarchical society. As a woman, Deborah would have been under male authority and control: as wife to Lappidoth, and in her early years, as a daughter. Deborah’s daily life would have been dictated by her husband’s social and economic status, and the geographical area in which they lived. As a wife, her daily activities would have revolved around her duties as a household manager, running the domestic life of her home. Deborah may have had the financial resources to pay for help, which freed her to expend time and energy on developing a wider role than that of wife and possibly mother.  Acknowledgement and appreciation of these feminine roles is found in biblical texts: in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 31, where the qualities of a good wife are given; and in Genesis, where Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah are described as ‘mothers of Israel’ (or immahot).

In the agrarian setting of the period of the Judges, Israelite families were open and fluid communities, and included extended family, slaves, servants and resident foreigners. In Hebrew, the word ‘family’ could also mean the clan, the tribe, or the nation. Within this wider ‘family’ context, Deborah’s reputation as a wife and mother may have spread, facilitating her development and growth into a position of respected leadership, wisdom and prophecy in the Israelite community. As a prophet, judge and leader, Deborah ranks alongside Miriam (sister of Moses and Aaron), and Huldah (wife of Shallum). Women’s role in religious life was restricted: they were not directly part of Yahweh’s covenant with Abraham or subject to circumcision, but were included in the membership of the people of God, albeit through the authority of the men to who they were subordinate.  Women were able to receive blessings, to participate in worshipping Yahweh, to benefit from reading of the law, to participate in sacrifices, to take the vow of the Nazarite - and to consult a prophet independently. Thus Deborah could rise to a position of authority and leadership, whereby her identity as a woman did not get in the way of her charge to, and relationship with, Barak.
So where did Deborah get her authority?

In the early days there was no king, so there was an expectation that a leader would emerge, sent by God when the need arose.

Prophecy is one of the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore a pre-condition is that the individual is holy and a servant of the Lord.  The source of the prophecy has to be from God Himself through the Holy Spirit.  "Indeed the Sovereign Lord never does anything until He reveals his plans to his servants the prophets."(Amos 3:7)

The people of Israel are expected to test the integrity of the person and the words that are spoken because false prophets are much more common than true prophets.  "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD; if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:22).

Deborah had been recognised as a person sent by God and she was a widely respected judge of the people before she gave the word to Barak.
So how did she manage her relationship with Barak?
We see that Deborah gave Barak a clear instruction of what God had told him to do, that is ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him,’ Barak told her, ‘I will go, but only if you go with me.’ Deborah agreed to this but told him in no uncertain terms that if he wasn’t willing to step out and follow God he wouldn’t receive God’s full blessing as the victory would be handed over to a woman.

This demonstrates that Deborah managed Barak in an open and honest and direct way. She ensured she followed her calling as prophet and clearly gave Barak God’s command. However, she didn’t then try to control or manipulate Barak in any way, but quite simply stated what the consequences of his actions would be, giving him a choice to obey fully or partially. He chose the latter. This shows that Deborah knew where her responsibility began and ended, to coin a phrase,  ‘she could lead the horse to water, but couldn’t make him drink!’ She could let go and let God be in control. It seems that Barak was the sort of man who wasn't that sure of himself and wanted to check everything out. Sometimes within God's providence He calls opposites to work together: the bold, inovative and visionary, with the quiet, reflective and measured. Leadership is about managing all of these different types of people.

It’s interesting to note that after the victory however, she and Barak celebrated together by singing and praising God. In the song Deborah praised Barak’s efforts rather than bringing up his reservations. Perhaps showing that she wasn’t bitter nor did she bring up past failings. She didn’t use her power and authority to rub his nose in it, but ended the victory reflecting on his achievements and the parts the rest of the 'team' had played.
So what were her leadership qualities and her planning skills?
Deborah emerges from Judges as a tremendously charismatic leader. She inspires confidence in the Israelites, as we see in the poem in chapter 5, where they call on her and Barak to lead them, and also in Barak as well. This is a leader who cares about those who look to her. Who delights when the people willingly volunteer.

She is a figure of authority - the language she uses, and that is used about her proclaim her to be a clear, concise and decisive leader. When she gives orders to Barak they are to the point, full of energy, and important detail.

She shows a willingness to change plans to get the job done, as when she agrees to go with Barak. She also shows forethought - understanding, and making sure others understand - the impact her decisions will have. Barak is left in no doubt the consequences of her accompanying him. Yet this too is apparently done without fuss or drama.

What we do not see a great deal of from Deborah is what we would recognise as planning. There are no discussions, no committees, charts or surveys. What we have instead is resolution, acting on what God has told her, and making sure others do the same. If I were to pick one leadership above all else that stands out in Deborah, it is focus on what is important. The will of God must be done, or Deborah will know the reason why.
So in conclussion.
We see that Deborah rose to become a leader, over coming challenges impossed by society, such as the restrictions on religious life. Yet Deborah was not alone in over coming these challenges, and as such she joins the ranks of other women in the Bible, such as Miriam, the sister of Moses.

Yet over coming such restrictions came about, undoubtedly, because of the authority God gave her. Her word and wisdom would have been tested - indeed she would have expected to be tested, and she would have been accepted as sent by God; earning her respect because of her wisdom and prophecy.

Her relationship with Barak was open and honest, yet started with giving him a clear vision of what to do. And her vision was based on a clear understadning of her role - as God's prophet. She did not manipulate, nor seek personal gain. Barak and Deborah must have been like chalk and cheese, yet God brought them together under Deborah's leadership - and led them to great success.

Achieveing this success required her ability to inspire confidence in others. Her authority is accompanied by clear, concise directions, yet a compassion and understanding to support others, such as Barrak. There are no details recorded about committees or plans, but the clear vision and focus that Deborah has shines out - she knows what is important, and that is what is done.
You can access it as a document, for easier printing, here:

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dd43kwrd_154f5r6zsdt

Final Presentation

All agreed now: 

The presentation will be in five sections, all about Deborah (Judges 4)

INTRODUCTION

How did she become a leader in Israel in what we regard as a very patriarchal society? (Kathryn)

Her source of authority. (NEIL)

How she manages her relationship with Barak (Natalie)

Her leadership qualities and her planning skills. (Cat)

Conclussion (Jonathan) 

If we aim for two minutes each on our selected question, then we should be fine.

When we each written our two minutes worth of text, you can submit it using the form below - leave you unaswered questions blank.




Here is the summary so far. Add comments using the form above so specific questions or using the comments box at the bottom

The Task

We have to give a presentation – and all four of us need to be involved in delivering the presentation.

We chose: Deborah

Deborah's story is in Judges 4 and 5.

How did she become a leader in Israel in what we regard as a very patriarchal society?

Note her source of authority, how she manages her relationship with Barak, her leadership qualities and her planning skills.


Things we need to do:

Answer the questions above

add an other comments we feel is relevant to the leadership characteristics of Deborah (including our own experiences)

Develop a ten minute presentation

There are separate sections for each. Please use the comment section to add your own comments.

How did she become a leader in Israel in what we regard as a very patriarchal society?

Sub questions?

Was she a leader, or was she following God?

Do we regard Israel as very patriarchal at the time? What is the evidence for this?

Patriarch




# A male leader of a family, a tribe or an ethnic or religious group.
# A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.
# Abraham, his son Isaac or his grandson Jacob. see Wikipedia
# (Christianity) The highest form of bishop, generally in charge of an ethnic community, but in terms of the pope and the ecumenical patriarch, the former is the Patriarch of the West and the latter is the Patriarch of the East, a division dating to the Emperor Constantine the Great. The cities of Antioch, Alexandria, and almost as an afterthought, Jerusalem are accorded equal historical if not ecclesial dignity. Any and all other patriarchs, particularly that of the Russian church, are inferior.

Her source of authority

Note her source of authority;
how she manages her relationship with Barak;
her leadership qualities and her planning skills.


ANy comments on this?

The Presentation

We have to give a ten minute presentation, which involves all of us.

Comments of structure, content, format, etc, in the comments box.

|EDIT|

The four questions are:

How did she become a leader in Israel in what we regard as a very patriarchal society? (Kathryn)

Her source of authority. (Neil- this is yours)

How she manages her relationship with Barak (Natalie)

Her leadership qualities and her planning skills. (Cat)