The Two Most contested Passages and the Warnings They Carry

Deborah
First, we have Deborah:
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. Judges 4:4-9, 14-16

We need to keep three things in mind:
1. God's perfect will versus His permissive will.
2. God uses things, which aren't in themselves right, to accomplish His will.
3. God's limitations, made in relation to man by man.

These three interrelate. The whole picture needs to be seen to understand the situation. We must start by remembering the book of Judges character. It doesn't always detail God's desire. It's more concerned with historical accuracy. It shows Israel left the Lord and returned, over and over, and the way men decided to go. It doesn't go into moral evaluation, just details.
In relation to Deborah, we see God used what was foundationally wrong. We have another example of this in Judges. This was Sampson. In his instance, the law forbade the marrying of a Jew to a non-Jew (Deuteronomy 7:3; Joshua 23:11-13; Exodus 34:12-16). Looking at Sampson, we see how God used what He had forbidden. Just because Sampson was used of God in this case (Judges 14:1-4, 14, 15; actually called husband and wife), it doesn't mean this was right before God. As already shown, God forbid it. In the same way we find David had many wives. This was forbidden to the kings (Deuteronomy 17:15-20), yet the Lord said (after the Bathsheba incident - II Samuel 12:7,8) he could have had more wives if need be. Permissive versus perfect will again. There's also the story of Balaam (Numbers 22). We can't assume that because something happened and God used it, it shows God's perfect will.
God's permissive will was done instead of His perfect will, because of man's free will. In the account of Deborah we find that in all Israel, there wasn't one man who would stand for God. God's grace is the reason He gave them judges at all. The judges helped deliver them from their enemies. Look at Judges 2:17:

And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so. Judges 2:17

From this we see the people didn't even seek the Lord when the judges were around. From Judges 4:8 we see the best man, whom the Lord chose during this period, wouldn't even do the job unless Deborah went with him. His eyes weren't focused on the Lord. He refused to go except someone else would lead him. I believe verse 9 was intended to be a reproof as well as looking to God's glory. The picture of verse 9 is this: Since no man would stand for the Lord alone, without leaning on the hand of the woman Deborah, likewise let the victory in the battle be by a woman.

Before moving on, we need to remember that even though there are these two exceptions of women leading, as much as they were a blessing to those involved, they were also a reproof. They showed shame at having fallen so far.

Huldah
The other case is found in II Kings:

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah, the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou has heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again. II Kings 22:11-20

We find a very interesting scenario here. The book of the law, which the king had just heard, had been lost (II Kings 22:10). The whole land of Israel had so forsaken the Lord that what they had of the Bible, had been completely lost. Imagine the darkness. This would be like the Bible becoming completely forgotten in America, to be rediscovered a hundred years later with teachings that would be shocking (or maybe ridiculous?) to its hearers. The Huldah account is much like Deborah's. They were both out of greatest darkness, both were turned to when the male leaders didn't do their duty and the Lord put them both to use.

Let's take a closer look at this passage now. The King of Judah sent the religious leader, the High Priest, to enquire of the Lord. The High Priest was to enquire of the Lord by the Urim (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; I Samuel 28:6; I Samuel 23:9-12). It's not surprising the High Priest, the spiritual leader, didn't try this. He probably didn't know what the Urim were for, since they weren't aware how great an abomination it was to have idols in the temple of the Lord (II Kings 23:1-14). The only person they found who knew God was Huldah. This is a miracle she knew Him, seeing the Word of God itself had been lost. She knew Him, having no written word to teach her.
There's also another lesson found by continuing to II Kings 23:1-5. King Josiah had just come to God, making a covenant to serve Him. From here on, the King leads in the cleansing and reforms. Even though the King had very recently come to the knowledge of God, he took the position of the spiritual leader. This has a powerful lesson: A man might be recently converted through a woman. Just because she's older in the Lord and there aren't other men of God in the area, is no excuse for her to lead the recent male converts. The converts may be young in Christ, but this is how the early churches were set up that were born of the Apostles and Evangelists. Don't let a woman lead a man just because she's older in the Lord.
In all balance, it should be remembered there have been women who helped lead into sin. Miriam (Numbers 12:1-5) and the women that Jeremiah dealt with (Jeremiah 44:15-27). These should serve as warnings.

There are those who misuse these passages to their own end, they insist they prove it's all right for women to pastor, etc. None of these passages indicate this. Such usage comes from a rebellious heart.

Recent Or Present Women Leaders:
There have been women leaders who've done great things. Some have trouble accepting the biblical teaching concerning women because of this. There was Catherine Booth, wife of the founder of the Salvation Army, she taught men. Kathryn Kuhlman, a preacher and a worker of great miracles. There was the woman founder of the "Foursquare Church", a relatively new denomination. She performed miracles. What's one to think of these and their apparent works? There are two passages which put these into perspective. The first being a severe warning:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

Those pictured, in these words of Christ, thought they were right. They performed great miracles and mighty works, but they were doomed. Don't let miracles, or confidence on the part of the miracle workers, deceive you. The other pertinent passage is in Luke:

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:41-48

This passage shows some will be appointed to destruction in the day of the Lord. Others will suffer much, but not the lake of fire. We see still others who sinned ignorantly. They could've known what was right if they had a heart to (Philippians 3:15). These will suffer some stripes too.
Women who lead and teach men may be in the first camp, those who are purely abominable. Others may be saved and used in spite of their sins. These will be in heaven, but they'll still suffer punishment for their sins, whether few or many stripes. Just because the Lord may have used what the women did, doesn't mean they did right. A personal example is that I was mainly led to the Lord by a non-Christian. He knew the Gospel and explained it even though he hadn't decided to follow yet. The Lord used an unsaved vessel to save another. Why wonder when He uses a woman in a similar manner when she teaches men things of God?
In listing some modern women examples, I'm not conceding they really did some great works of God. In the instance of Kathryn Kuhlman, I've read some biographical work on her that casts a very dark shadow. I've seen enough evidence that I'd have to seriously wonder if she did any work for God at all.
I've seen women's liberation seep into the church. I found one women's ministry whose purpose is to help women take the place of leadership in the church. Its goal is to help women gain that place of equal leadership, even if they have to break down the church to do it. It went on to further relate a vision, supposedly from God. She saw a cave with a bunch of women in it. Women who were stifled, being held in bondage of their cave. That cave represented their homes, being keepers of their homes. It cast an insulting light on the home by calling it a cave, as if it's something scornful. It said some women are meant to keep the home, but the tone was very clear that it held a bitter taste of bondage.
The spirit of liberation has become cancer in the church in these last days. The men have been weak-kneed too often, allowing the women to move up into forbidden positions. This weakness, on the part of the men, can only spell spiritual death for the church. When God's government is uprooted for man's (or women's) new design, this spells revolution. God's Spirit and the Kingdom of God cannot reign where the spirit of revolution and rebellion resides. If God's Kingdom is to prosper in this world, God's government must be followed. There is only one head, and He's Christ. The principal of new heads for His work doesn't work. Remember Korah, Dathan and Abiram wanted to replace Moses (Numbers 16:1-4), but God wouldn't accept man's appointment. The ends don't justify the means. This issue of following God's government is crucial in these last days.

Don't let it slip!

The Lord's admonition to you wouldn't be, "Do things because I can make use out of them anyway", but "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28