Names have always had an incredible power. They can describe us, shape us, and guide us throughout our lives. Many cultures have realized the power behind words, so they are intentional when choosing the name for their children.
I appreciate the name my parents gave me. Kristie. It means woman of God. I believe that name gave me a course for the early stages of my life. It promises that no matter the trials in my life, I will still ultimately look to God to guide me.
So why am I talking about names? In Malawi, I struggled a lot with comparison and I didn’t feel like I really knew who I was anymore. On the Race, I have constantly stripped back layers upon layers of lies and labels others have placed on me in order to find the person God created me to be. During one of our team times, Dani asked us to take time to be with the Lord and ask Him what He thought of ourselves.
I pulled out my journal and trusty green pen ready to write down what the Lord was saying, I closed my eyes and sat in anticipation for the identity the Lord would reveal to me. At first I could see a sword. I immediately thought of the passage in Ephesians where Paul talks about the armor of God. I knew there that the sword is of the Spirit, but the Lord said my sword is of truth. My armies are at your command. You lead with dignity and honor for you encamp in my Word. You lead by following my command. You are equipped with weapons the enemy cannot stand against. Now rise up and lead my daughter, my Deborah.
Holy shiitake mushrooms. I’ve heard the Lord before in my life, but this was on a whole other level. It pierced me, shattered me, and reformed me.
I had heard about Deborah the Judge in Bible classes in college, so I felt that I knew that God was calling me to be a leader for those around me. However, the Lord prompted me to really dig into the name. So I powered up the good ol’ interwebs and typed Deborah into the google search bar. I was completely overwhelmed with my findings.
The name Deborah is a name in Hebrew that means bee (devorah). Bee. Okay? That’s cool I guess. But remember, even the names of the animals have great meaning.
Bees were called devorah because the root of that word is davor/davar which means word, speak, or command. Their buzzing sounds were believed to be a form of communication, hence the given name. It also is a word that connotes order and structure. Bees are creatures who live in a community of harmony and order. Their survival hinges on all of the working parts of the hive.
I was curious about how Deborah the Judge exhibited these trait during her life. I was surprised to find that she is not the only Deborah in the OT. There was a Deborah before Deborah. In Gen. 35., God commands Jacob to return to Bethel to build and altar. Before He commands Jacob, Jacob’s life is literally a roller coaster; he wrestles with God, is reunited with Esau, and finds his daughter Dinah was defiled by Shechem. Life wasn’t the greatest at every moment for Jacob, yet God is calling him back to where He first revealed Himself to Jacob to establish a new name and covenant. Yet in the middle of this important moment, a blurb about a nurse named Deborah is found.
6 And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth. Genesis 35:6-8
Why was she mentioned? What great purpose did she have in the family of Jacob that they would mention a nurse by name?
In the culture of that time, Deborah would have been with Jacob and his family throughout her life. Many speculate that the nurse in Gen 24: 59 who was sent with Rebekah to join Isaac is in fact Deborah. This would mean that Deborah helped raise Jacob. She probably bathed him, fed him, and taught him about the God of Abraham.
Her death also reveals her importance to the family. She was buried in a place called Allon-Bacuth, which means The Oak of Mourning. Tree in Hebrew is etz and is often used as imagery for counsel (etzah). She was not merely a servant. She was the familial nurturer, teacher, and counselor.
I wanted to research more about Deborah the Judge after finding so much about the first Deborah.
Deborah was very much unique. She was the fourth judge of Israel, the only female to hold the title, and the only judge to also be a prophet. Oh, and she’s the only judge to be completely cast in a positive light.
The first time we see Deborah the Judge she is sitting under a tree to give judgement. Just like Deborah the Nurse, Deborah the Judge is meant to give counsel to her people. She literally sits in a seat of counsel.
It is also important to highlight the fact that she was the Fourth. Numbers have huge implications, just as much as words. The number four represents authority and governance. Before her rule, Israel was oppressed yet again due to their wickedness. The Lord chose Deborah to rise up to bring order to her people.
Realizing her duty, Deborah used her words as her choice of weapon. As a judge, she would have governed by passing verdicts and sentences. As a prophet, she would have brought to light the corruption of her people and guided them to the truth. As a leader during a time of war, she inspired Barak to realize his God-given purpose and fight alongside her for Israel.
These women were pretty BA.
God gave me this name before I was even born. It was a name He whispered to me all along, and I now have the joy of hearing it everyday. He knew my struggles with my identity and He chose to reveal clearly how He made me. My new name holds the promise of my purpose to lead, counsel, and govern.
He has since opened my mouth to encourage and speak truth into those I meet. He has blessed me with a new confidence in who I am and who He created me to be. I don’t exactly know where the Lord will lead me but I at least know the name of the path.
