(edited 10.2023) Barak and Judge Deborah - Old Testament Lesson About Who's Beside You.

Barak had no shame in asking a woman, Deborah, to help him fight.

He had no resistance against God leading him to ask a woman for help.  He rode beside her, unlike some who may get directions and ideas from women, then put the women in the background or completely hidden, then walk out the directions and ideas as if they were his own.

He didn't seem to despise or reject or degrade in any way - spiritually, emotionally, intellectually - a woman/women. Men who do such seem to puzzle women and other men who can't see how those type men can incubate in a woman and are probably raised by a woman, but disdain and degrade women and suggests that in doing so, they are obeying God. 

Audio texts pictured. (I listen to the Bible when I'm driving and audio text myself my thoughts about what I hear.) 
My thoughts when listening to this chapter were that Barak wanted Judge Deborah to go with him because of her wisdom and perhaps her Ministry of Presence. To impart wisdom, one has to speak. How many take a woman with them, probably their wife (Judge D was not his wife. She had a husband.), but expect her to not say a word - just sit and look pretty and look like the man is doing a good job of being a husband. Come on! 

There are many Baraks who find themselves buddying up with their wife, especially later in life, when everyone else - all their guy friends - are stationed at home taking care of health issues with self or the spouse, raising grandkids, or have just run out of all the energy they had in the past that they expended hanging out with male friends (who also had families at home waiting). They eventually find their 'home' again. Don't we all?