Objection: God gifted women to
serve as prophets (Acts 2:17-18; 1 Cor. 11:5), such as Miriam (Ex. 15:20),
Deborah (Judg. 4:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36), and the four
daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8-9). Deborah also served as a
judge over Israel and accompanied its army in war (Judg. 4:4-5, 10). Thus,
women may preach and rule.
In reply, we recognize that God greatly honored
prophetesses by using them as instruments to reveal his word. However, prophecy
(the reception and communication of new special revelation of the Word). People
came to Deborah and Huldah for guidance, but the Scriptures say nothing about
them publicly preaching, or teaching Judg. 4:5; 2 Kings 22:14). Furthermore,
Craig Blomberg says, “The prophets did not seem to perform regular, predictable
leadership functions during worship services or in the day-in, day-out
administration of tabernacle, temple, or synagogue. So it would seem
inappropriate to liken them to Christian pastors or elders.”
Deborah “judged” Israel (Judg. 4:4), which might indicate
that she gave civil leadership to the people. Alternatively, “judgment” (v. 5)
might refer to God’s provision of salvation for his people from their
oppressors (Ps. 146:7), which he accomplished by mobilizing Barak and his army
through Deborah’s prophecy. We cannot regard Deborah as a warrior, unlike the
male judges, for she went with Barak only at his insistence, and he lost honor
because of it (Judg. 4:8-9). Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh (v. 10), but
then she went him into battle with a prophecy of victory: “The LORD hath delivered
Sisera into thine hand” (v. 14). The account of the battle speak of
Barak but not Deborah (vv. 15-16). As the sole female judge, she was hardly a
paradigm for regular leadership by women. Therefore, the ministry of Deborah
and other prophetesses does not overthrow the divinely ordained pattern of male
teachers and rulers among the priests and kings of Israel. (Joel R. Beeke and Paul
M. Smalley, Reformed Systematic Theology, 4 vols. [Wheaton, Ill.:
Crossway, 2024], 4:347-48)
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