Deborah: A Second Moses
I want to tell you a story.
It’s a story about two leaders, seemingly without connection, separated by hundreds of years.
It’s a story about a man and a woman who share the same leadership role, face the same leadership challenges, but only one of them usually gets the credit.
It’s also a story about what makes a leader worth following—about the failings and abuses of power that tempt leaders to neglect their duty and the courage it takes to remain faithful.
So, what is it that connects Moses and Deborah?
Here’s the answer: both Moses and Deborah were delivering judges.
A Leadership Parallel We Often Miss
In this second season of Holy Curiosity, we’re diving deep into the powerful connection between Moses and Deborah—two leaders called by God to deliver their people. You’ve likely never heard a message comparing Moses to Deborah because most Bible readers overlook or minimize Deborah’s role in the nation of ancient Israel.
But this isn’t just a slight against Deborah—it’s also a disservice to Moses.
Moses shared Deborah’s passion for her people, her devotion to righteousness and justice, and her commitment to God’s Word. And both leaders had the fortitude to head into battle with confidence in God.
Yet, Deborah’s leadership is often diminished. While Moses is celebrated as Israel’s great deliverer, Deborah’s role as a judge, prophet, and military leader is often treated as a historical footnote.
And that’s a mistake.
Deborah: A Second Moses
I know—connecting Moses with Deborah may disrupt our expectations of leadership in ancient Israel. Maybe it even challenges some of our views on leadership today. But literarily speaking, Deborah was a second Moses.
Both were judges, raised up by God to bring deliverance to His people.
Both stood in the gap when others faltered, leading with wisdom and faithfulness.
Both pointed Israel back to the Lord, calling them to righteousness.
And both walked into battle with full confidence that God would go before them.
Yet, history remembers Moses as Israel’s deliverer, while Deborah is often overlooked.
But if we fail to value Deborah’s judgeship as God does, we risk something bigger than just forgetting a remarkable leader.
We risk failing the Deborahs in our churches—women called and equipped by God to lead.
We risk diminishing the Moseses among us—men who, like Deborah, lead with courage and faithfulness.
And ultimately, we risk robbing Christ of the honor due to His leadership as the final delivering Judge.
A Storyline Worth Exploring
In Season 2 of Holy Curiosity, we’ll explore the storied connections threaded throughout Scripture. My hope is that these stories will spark a holy curiosity in your own faith—because once you see these connections, you can’t unsee them.
God wastes no person, no place, and no thing.
Join me as we uncover the brilliance of God’s storytelling, from the Old Testament to the New.
🎧 Listen to the Season 2 trailer of Holy Curiosity below or → Click here
