The Red Boots

Something about a red pair of shoes or boots screams BOLDNESS. Maybe that's in my head, but for several years I wanted a pair of red boots but could never find them, or my size was unavailable when I did find them. This year was different! I began my search in July and found a pair of reasonably priced red boots on Amazon for the win! Several days after my purchase, they arrived in the mail, and I looked forward to the cooler weather when I could wear them. I already have a RED BELT purchased at a consignment shop, which matched perfectly. In addition, one day, while shopping in ROSS, I found a RED pleather jacket for $20. Only ONE jacket on the rack, and it was my size! So I now have red boots, a red belt, AND a red coat. A few weeks ago, I spoke at a women's conference called UNSTOPPABLE, and the color theme was RED. It's great when our outfit fits the theme, but more important is when the message mirrors the look. I want my red boots to symbolize bold faith!

 I spoke about Deborah, the bold female judge and prophetess you read about in the book of Judges. I titled the message, Unstoppable Courage. There is one key scripture in this story that illuminates her courage and boldness.

Judges 5:7 says:

"There were few people left in the villages until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel."

To give you a little backstory, the Israelites lived under oppression at the hands of the Canaanites for twenty years. Why? Israel had turned their back on God and became very comfortable with the culture. Unfortunately, their actions led to consequences, which led to oppression. Sound like 2022 to me!

Please read it in Judges 4:1-3

"After Ehud's death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord's sight. So, the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help."

 Life for Israel was oppressive under Canaan's rule. The Canaanite army was mighty, with 900 chariots. These chariots had spikes attached to their wheels that could plow down anyone who tried to fight back, so they didn't. That is why there were few people in the villages. The fear of being plowed over was enough to keep them in bondage UNTIL they cried out to the Lord for help! Life can turn around WHEN we call out to the Lord! 

Enter Deborah! Deborah, who serves as a female judge and prophetess, hears from God and speaks with boldness! She instructs Barak, the leader of the Israeli army, to take a stand. You can read it in Judges, chapter four.

"Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him." Judges 4:6-7

Barak, who isn't confident in this plan, tells Deborah he will go only if she goes with him. She said she would go, BUT the victory will not be his, but rather a woman who would take Sisera down.

They head out to battle, true to Deborah's prophetic charge, and God fights for Israel. Sisera's army gets confused, and Barak and his 10,000 men chase them down, destroying them. Seeing the writing on the wall, Sisera jumps out of his chariot and runs the other way, stopping at the tent of Jael, a woman he thought would be an ally, but he is wrong. Jael gives Sisera some warm milk and covers him up, so he can sleep, exhausted from the battle. Once asleep, she took a tent peg and put it through his head, killing him. A WOMAN defeated the enemy.

Deborah's boldness encourages another woman, Jael, to be bold and courageous! God gives them both victory that day. Two brave, courageous, BOLD women.

“The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” Ephesians 3:12

Ladies, it's time to be BOLD in our faith and actions. Your spiritual lives are at stake. Your children's spiritual lives are at stake, and our culture is at stake. We need BOLD women who know GOD to live with courage and faith and contend for what is godly in a godless culture!

Let's put on our spiritual RED BOOTS and get going!

Love serving you!

Liz