Male Leadership in the Bible is God's Pattern Even with Deborah

We see male leadership in the Bible even with Deborah (Judges 4). The pattern began at creation and is maintained with patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. Paul said, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority" (1 Timothy2:12). If you're wondering, "What does the bible say about leadership?" read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way for answers. Table of contentsFemale Leaders in the Bible Don't Conflict with God's Pattern of Male LeadershipQueensJezebel and AthaliahEstherPriestessesProphetessesMiriam the ProphetessHuldah the ProphetessFive Reasons Deborah Supports Male Leadership in the BibleFirst, There’s No Mention of Deborah Being Appointed by GodSecond, Deborah’s Ministry was Private Versus PublicThird, Deborah Encouraged Barak to LeadFourth, Deborah Rebuked Barak for Failing to LeadFifth, Deborah's Account Is Descriptive Versus PrescriptiveThe Pattern of Male Leadership in the Bible Continues Today"I Do not Permit a Woman to Teach or to Assume Authority" (1 Timothy 2:12) The Real Question About Male LeadershipFootnotes https://youtu.be/thn12gSFjo4 Male leadership in the Bible is God's pattern (1 Timothy 2:12) with Deborah (Judges 4): male patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. I was not raised in a Christian home. While my parents were moral, hardworking, and I learned much from them, they didn’t model gender roles for me as they’re presented in Scripture. This led me to believe men and women are identical regarding their roles and responsibilities. Aside from the obvious, such as not going into the bathroom of the wrong gender or playing on the opposite gender’s sports team—things that tragically our world is even starting to get wrong—I didn’t think of men and women acting much differently from each other. This was even the case when I went through ROTC and then became an Army officer. Except for a few differences, such as lower requirements on the physical fitness tests, I didn’t see men and women facing different expectations or being treated differently. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, and even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, there was a nagging suspicion that men, versus women, should lead. You probably have this thought in the back of your mind too. Why is that? Because, as Scripture reveals, God created men to lead. We see that throughout the history of God’s people. The pattern of male leadership began at creation and is maintained throughout Scripture: There were patriarchs instead of matriarchs. The tribes of Israel were named after men. The only legitimate mediators between God and people were men (i.e., priests instead of priestesses). God appointed kings instead of queens. God called men to serve as the focal points of His covenants with mankind (for example, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus). Female Leaders in the Bible Don't Conflict with God's Pattern of Male Leadership So why do we see examples of female leadership in Scripture? What about queens, prophetesses, and at least one female judge—Deborah? Were these women anomalies? Are they examples of rebellion against God’s design, or is there another explanation? To answer these questions, let’s look at them individually. Queens Scripture mentions three prominent queens, and they fall into two categories: evil and good. Jezebel and Athaliah Jezebel (1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 9) and Athaliah (2 Kings 8, 11) were evil women who seized control and became tyrannical leaders. Jezebel instituted the worship of the false god Baal across Israel and persecuted followers of Yahweh. Athaliah murdered her grandchildren upon the death of her son and then seized the throne of Judah. Clearly, neither woman serves as a good example. Esther On the other hand, Esther stands in contrast as a godly queen. We see through the account of her life that she supported male leadership through her submission first to her adopted father,