Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
This weekend was our annual women's conference at church; it's always the weekend after Labor Day but this year, being as how Labor Day was Sept. 1, it just feels like it came REALLY EARLY.
Like, I wasn't ready. I'm still stuck somewhere in June, I think.
And this year was different. We partnered with Krista Smith and her B.I.G. Ladies' Club ministry for a conference titled 'This is the Rise'... and we were challenged to 'rise up' like Deborah.
It inspired me, a bit, to think about Deborah. We kinda get the idea that Deborah appeared under the palm tree and began dispensing wisdom to Israel, and shortly called Barak to go after Sisera and defeat him...mostly because that story happens completely in Judges 4, and she sings about it in Judges 5. But, here's what hit me over the weekend....
The Israelites had been oppressed by the Canaanite king Jabin, and his captain Sisera for 20 years when they cried out to God for help (Judges 4:3). First thing that hit me was, why did they endure it for 20 years before they asked for help? ...but that's not really part of the story.
Except that we read that Deborah was leading Israel at that time, and she 'held court' under the 'Palm of Deborah' (Judges 4:4).
Here's what hit me...we don't know how long Deborah had been meeting folks under that palm tree. In fact, what I heard in my spirit when I was thinking about it was, 'It wasn't known as the Palm of Deborah' when she first went there.'
When did Deborah 'rise up'? (Judges 5:7) At what point in those 20 years did she first sit under a palm tree?
I may actually write a story about it sometime...but my thought processes took me to a young lady who was desperate to get some time with her God, and who, at some point, took a short walk away from the everyday setting and sat down under a random palm tree and poured her heart out to God and was refreshed. So maybe the next day, or maybe three or four days later, she went back. And went back again. And, eventually, this became her regular practice.
She was regularly communing with God.
Eventually, folks noticed this. And maybe, one day, one of her neighbors timidly interrupted Deborah's seeking time to ask her to pray for her. And Deborah did...and got an answer for her.
Which told the neighbor that God saw her and heard her and was an accurate word for her situation. She told another neighbor, who also came to Deborah with a problem, and who also got a word from God...and...word spread, and eventually the palm tree was designated as Deborah's and people were coming regularly; tribal leaders consulted with her.
She was leading Israel.
This whole process probably took years. YEARS. She was likely a grandmother by this time.
But when the people cried out for help, Deborah was positioned to hear from God and give instruction to defeat the enemy. She didn't just pop up in charge of things; it was a culmination of small moments of obedience over a Very Long Time.
This was my take away from the weekend; I must become more consistent with those small moments. True confession: I have been coasting for some time. I repent. I need to just go to the palm tree... and keep going.
Beginner artwork inspired by Deborah's sojourns under the palm tree....
