Deborah and Moses: Delivering Judges
My dear friend, Nika Spaulding—Bible teacher and theologian—joined me on Holy Curiosity to talk about the connections between Deborah and Moses and delivering judges in the Bible.
The things is, Deborah isn’t an isolated hero in Scripture—she is part of God’s divine pattern of raising up delivering judges for His people. And ultimately, her story points us forward to the true Deliverer and final Judge, Jesus Christ.
Deborah and Moses Connectings:
1. They Both Faced Oppressive Rulers
Moses stood against Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler who enslaved and oppressed the Israelites. Deborah rose up in a time when King Jabin of Canaan and his general, Sisera, brutally oppressed Israel for 20 years. Both leaders were called to deliver their people from tyrants who underestimated the strength of God's chosen deliverers—especially the strength of women.
2. They Were Both Judges for Their People
Moses was the first judge in Israel, sitting daily to settle disputes and discern God’s will for the people. Deborah, the only judge in the book of Judges explicitly described as judging, did the same. While other judges in the book were primarily military leaders, Deborah—like Moses—was already acting as a spiritual and legal authority before she led Israel into battle.
3. They Witnessed Cosmic Water Events That Defeated Their Enemies
Moses watched as God parted the Red Sea, leading Israel through on dry land before crushing Pharaoh’s army under the returning waters. Deborah’s victory, though less well known, involved a similar divine intervention. Judges 5 describes how the Kishon River swelled with rain, trapping Sisera’s 900 iron chariots in the mud and allowing Israel to claim victory.
4. Their Battles Took Place in Valleys
Moses and the Israelites stood trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea—a literal and figurative low point. Likewise, Deborah and Barak faced Sisera’s army in a wadi (a dry riverbed valley), which became the setting for another miraculous deliverance. These geographical “valleys” serve as reminders that God often brings His greatest victories in the lowest places. Check out my Bible study, Valleys, to learn more.
5. Songs Were Sung About Their Victories
Both Moses and Deborah’s victories were immortalized in song. Exodus 15 records the Song of Moses and Miriam, celebrating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Judges 5 preserves the Song of Deborah and Barak, praising God’s defeat of Sisera. These songs not only celebrate past victories but also serve as theological reflections on God’s justice and power.
Deborah, Moses, and Jesus
Seeing Deborah as the second Moses helps us recognize that God’s plan for delivering His people has always been consistent. But both Moses and Deborah point beyond themselves to a greater Deliverer—Jesus Christ.
Like Moses and Deborah, Jesus faced oppressive rulers. Like them, He judged with wisdom and righteousness. Like them, He fought the ultimate battle in a “valley”—the valley of death itself. And like them, His victory was followed by songs of praise—songs that will continue for eternity.
If you’ve never considered these powerful connections before, I invite you to listen to my full conversation with Nika Spaulding on Holy Curiosity.
🎧 Subscribe, listen, and review the episode with Nika here → www.katarmstrong.com/podcast
Stay curious, y’all.
