***She Already Knew—a series on women who were formed before they were faithful.

On stepping up, stepping back, and trusting God with the credit

“I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)

She knew two things: victory would be his, and credit would not.

Credit would go to a woman, and she didn’t mean to herself.

Deborah, a prophet and the only female judge of Israel, summoned Barak to tell him God’s strategy to win a battle. He was to gather 10,000 men at Tabor, and God would give the enemy into his hands. He responded by telling Deborah that he would go if she went with him.

Scripture gives honor to both. Deborah is listed by Samuel as one of the deliverers of Israel, and Barak is named by the writer of Hebrews among the faithful. But it’s ultimately not about them. It’s always about God, his nature, and how he is revealing himself.

It’s not about us either. But as we sit with Scriptures and consider what God did in and through people in their time, their lives challenge ours.

Deborah was a fiery woman who had earned a reputation compelling enough that someone of Barak’s stature came when summoned. She was discerning enough to read the outcome before the battle began. And she was ready to go herself.

Her life raises questions. Are we discerning? Do we recognize the moment when it arrives? Are we prepared to act in God’s timing and in his way?

Deborah’s readiness was remarkable. Scripture says she sat under a palm tree, while the people of Israel came to her for judgment. She held court. She was a woman of the Spirit. And yet she was also ready for battle. That kind of readiness doesn’t happen by accident.

I routinely question my own readiness. As a child I read the story of Corrie ten Boom, the Holocaust survivor, and wondered, would I have that kind of courage? I’ve heard the persecuted church prays for American believers to be strong if faced with persecution. I wonder, would I be? And if not, where is the weakness?

Would it be spiritual? Would I need to restart the engine of my prayer life, discovering that I have forgotten how to hear? Or would the spirit be willing but the mind weak, full of doubt, dread, or worse case scenarios?

Or worse: would my mind be too strong, certain of its own reasoning, mistaking confidence for clarity?

And then there’s the body. Would I discover that I’ve spent more time exercising my faith in church settings than stewarding my physical body for wherever God calls me to?

Deborah was ready. Period. That challenges me.

In one decisive moment she agreed to go, stated the outcome, and relinquished credit for her risk. She demonstrated more confidence in the God whose side she was on than fear of the enemy on the other.

Credit is harder to relinquish than it sounds. A young supervisor came to me recently — her friction with a coworker traced back to a single source: she was no longer getting credit for the coworker's advancement. James calls this exactly what it is: the selfish desires that cause fights and quarrels among us.

Deborah faced neither. No jealousy, no insecurity — just a fellow warrior and a kingdom to advance. That context brought out the best in her. She was fierce, unflinching and unrelenting in whatever advanced the kingdom. Whether holding court under a palm tree or going to war alongside a man in battle, she was prepared and kingdom focused.

We are called to lose ourselves for the gospel (Mark 8:35), which is a countercultural call in a world busy curating images and building personal brands. Losing ourselves takes many forms, from releasing the small need to be credited and seen, to giving up income and comfort to serve where God sends. But in every case it requires paying attention to God, to the moment, and to what we're hanging onto.

If we are too distracted to tune into God’s voice, we will not hear.

If we are too absorbed in the cares of this life, we will not be ready.

If we are attached to the promises of a consumer culture that guarantees gain for effort, we will find ourselves fighting for our own kingdom instead of his.

Keep your gaze fixed and spirit attuned to the Spirit of God, and you will know. If you are stewarding all of yourself well, you will be ready when the moment comes. And if a man doesn’t invite you to battle, another will.

We are warriors, and we cannot afford to be distracted when the moment comes

We are warriors, and we cannot afford to be distracted when the moment comes or to be unprepared in any facet to act. Don’t let the hundred men who didn’t see you cause you to miss the Barak who does.

And when we go, women, let’s not worry about who gets the credit. Let’s be in it for the advance of God’s kingdom and pray he gets the glory however he chooses. That posture—credit surrendered and kingdom focused—is for our good and for his glory.

Stay tuned for the unlikely woman who does get the credit.

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If this resonated with you, or if you recognize yourself in one of these seasons, the 4th Gen mentoring program exists for exactly that season. A year of being known. Of learning to hear his voice over the noise. Of being formed for what is ahead.

Reach out at [email protected].