God has liberated his people from slavery in Egypt, and has led them to the promised land. Surely now they will live the kind of life God has in mind for them, worshiping only YHWH, dealing justly with each other, keeping the covenant and laws of God.
Not quite.
Instead, as the book of Judges tells us over and over, the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (Judges 2:11-15), worshiping other gods, being unfaithful to YHWH. God is angered, and hands his people over to non-Israelite oppressors. When the people cry out, he appoints "judges" who deliver them from their enemies. After the death of a judge however, the cycle repeats itself, and the book of Judges tells of many such cycles. Deborah is one of the early judges.
Led by the judge Deborah, the military leader Barak, and the cunning Jael, the Israelites achieve victory over the Canaanites, the oppressors of this period. Deborah is the only named woman judge, and she speaks as one who speaks with God. But the text tells us that it was God who "subdued King Jabin of Canaan".
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| Deborah under palm tree |
The Israelites believed their special relationship with God gave them a special destiny, but they let immediate desires overcome their long-term covenant. Are there any parallels in human history?
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