Deborah's biblical story is one of the few which feature female abilities and leadership. It is a wonderful example of how God can use any person who wants to be His servant. In fact, He even used people like Jonah who resist God at every turn, and John who argued with the other disciples about which one of them would be the greatest.
But resistance was never the case with Deborah, who was thought to be an Ephraimite because she resided in Ephraim. She was a judge and led Israel for 60 years in the 12th century before Christ. Her oversight covered approximately 20 years of national hardship before the Canaanite war and the peaceful 40 years aftermath. Arguably, Deborah was first and foremost recognized as a female prophet, then as a judge, then a leader in a military role, and even as a songstress. Also, she was a courageous warrior, minstrel, and mother.