FEAST: 30 Days of Real Truth for Real LifeSample

Day 24: Deborah—Leadership

Snack

1. God raises up leaders who listen to His voice.
2. True leadership is about courage and obedience, not titles.
3. When we step up in faith, others are empowered to follow.

Appetiser

Have you ever been thrust into a position of leadership you didn’t feel ready for?

Main Course

Deborah was a prophet and judge in Israel during a time of great oppression. She listened to God’s voice and spoke His word with authority, offering wisdom and guidance to the people (Judges 4:4-5).

When God commanded Barak to lead Israel into battle, he hesitated. He told Deborah, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go” (Judges 4:8 NIV). Deborah agreed, but made it clear that the honour would not be his alone. Her courage and faith steadied those around her when fear threatened to hold them back.

On the day of battle, Deborah declared,“Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14 NIV). Her leadership was not about her own strength but about pointing others to trust God’s power. The victory belonged to the Lord, but Deborah’s obedience inspired others to step forward.

After the triumph, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise, recounting the faithfulness of God. In it, Deborah declared:“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7 NIV). Her leadership flowed not from ambition but from calling, rooted in her identity as both prophet and mother to her people.

Deborah’s story reminds us that leadership in God’s kingdom does not depend on status or position. It is about listening, obeying, and stepping forward in courage when God calls. True leadership inspires others to rise up too.

You may not see yourself as a leader, but God may be calling you to influence, guide, or encourage others. Like Deborah, leadership begins with hearing His voice and saying yes when others hesitate.

When God calls, your obedience can ignite courage in those around you.