Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 1 - Deborah and Barak

Deborah and Barak

Get it on Google Play
Get it on the Apple App Store
  1. Home
  2. Comprehensive Lesson Plan and Notes
  3. Junior Secondary 1
  4. Deborah and Barak

TERM: 3RD TERM

WEEK: 5

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 1

AGE: 12 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Deborah and Barak

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) Give an account of Deborah and Barak and how they led their people to freedom

2.) State the moral lessons from the story

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 1

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

PUPIL’S ACTIVITY

STEP 1

Review

The teacher revises the previous lesson

Learners pay attention

STEP 2

Introduction

She then introduces the new topic by giving an account of how Deborah and Barak led their people to freedom

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 3

Explanation

She further states the moral lessons in the story

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 4

NOTE TAKING

The teacher writes a short note on the board for the learners to copy

The learners copy the note from the board

NOTE

DEBORAH AND BARAK

The account of Deborah and Barak is found in Judges 4-5 in the Bible. It is a powerful narrative of leadership, courage, and divine intervention during a tumultuous period for the Israelites, who were oppressed by the Canaanite king Jabin.

  1. Deborah's Leadership: Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge of Israel. She held court under a palm tree in Ephraim, where the Israelites came to her for judgment. During this time, the Israelites were suffering under the oppression of King Jabin and his commander, Sisera, who had a formidable army with iron chariots.
  2. Divine Instruction: Deborah received a message from God instructing her to mobilize the Israelites against Sisera. She called Barak, the son of Abinoam, and conveyed God’s command to him: to gather an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to confront Sisera at Mount Tabor.
  3. Barak’s Hesitation: Barak was hesitant to go into battle without Deborah’s presence. He expressed that he would only go if she accompanied him. Deborah agreed but told Barak that the honor of victory would not be his, as God would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.
  4. The Battle: Deborah and Barak gathered the troops and marched to Mount Tabor. When Sisera heard that the Israelites were mobilizing, he assembled his army and advanced toward them. God intervened by sending a powerful storm that caused confusion among Sisera's forces. The chariots became stuck in the mud, and the Israelites, inspired by Deborah’s leadership and Barak’s command, defeated Sisera’s army.
  5. Sisera's Downfall: In the chaos of the battle, Sisera fled on foot. He sought refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who was at peace with Jabin. However, Jael took advantage of the situation; after providing Sisera with hospitality, she killed him by driving a tent peg through his head while he was asleep.
  6. The Song of Deborah: After the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to God, celebrating their triumph and the role of various tribes in the battle. This song not only commemorated the victory but also called for continued faithfulness to God.

Moral Lessons from the Story

  1. Leadership and Courage: Deborah exemplifies strong leadership and courage, demonstrating that effective leadership can come from anyone, regardless of gender. Her faith in God and ability to inspire others led to the liberation of the Israelites.
  2. Faith and Obedience: Barak's initial hesitation serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and obedience to God’s commands. Trusting in God’s promises can lead to significant victories.
  3. Divine Providence: The story illustrates that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, God’s intervention can change the course of events in favor of those who trust Him.
  4. Unity and Cooperation: The collaboration between Deborah, Barak, and the tribes of Israel highlights the importance of unity and working together toward a common goal. Collective effort in faith can lead to overcoming challenges.
  5. Courage in Unexpected Places: Jael’s role in defeating Sisera emphasizes that courage can come from unexpected sources. God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes, regardless of their background or status.

 

EVALUATION:   

  1. Describe the role of Deborah as a leader in the narrative. How did her position as a prophetess influence her actions and decisions during the crisis with King Jabin and Sisera?
  2. Analyze Barak's initial response to Deborah's call to action. What does his hesitation reveal about the nature of leadership and the importance of faith in challenging situations?
  3. Explain the significance of divine intervention in the battle against Sisera. How did God's actions contribute to the outcome of the conflict, and what does this suggest about His involvement in the affairs of His people?
  4. Discuss the collaboration between Deborah, Barak, and the Israelites in the context of unity and cooperation. How did their collective efforts lead to victory, and what lessons can be drawn about teamwork in overcoming adversity?
  5. Evaluate the impact of Jael's actions on the story's outcome. What does her role suggest about the unexpected ways in which God can bring about deliverance, and how can this be applied to modern concepts of courage and leadership?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively