Judges 4:17-22 – Jael
Of all of the Canaanite army, only its commander, Sisera has survived the battle. When he sees that defeat is inescapable, he gets down from his chariot and flees on foot. While the Israelites have been busy pursuing Sisera’s army to Harosheth-hagoyim, Sisera has run north from Mount Tabor, twenty miles or more to where Heber the Kenite is encamped near Barak’s hometown of Kedesh in Naphtali. There is peace between Heber and King Jabin, whom Sisera serves, so Sisera likely thinks he can find a safe place to hide among Heber’s people. What Sisera may not know is the long history and close relationship between the Kenites and Israelites, going back to the time of the Kenites’ ancestor, Hobab, who was Moses’ brother-in-law.
Seeing Sisera coming, Heber’s wife, Jael, offers him a hiding place in her tent. However, sheltering him is not what Jael has in mind. She keeps watch at the door of the tent until Sisera, exhausted from the battle and from his long run, falls asleep. When he is fast asleep, Jael takes a hammer and drives a tent peg through his head. Thus God’s prophecy by Deborah is fulfilled. The LORD has sold Sisera into the hand of a woman. Barak arrives only in time to be shown Sisera’s corpse, lying staked through the skull in Jael’s tent.
Instead of the praise going to the victorious general, Barak, it will be Jael who gets the praise for Sisera’s defeat. Nevertheless, it is God who has caused all these things to happen. The praise ultimately belongs to Him. It is He who has mightily used Jael for this purpose.
Questions
- How was God’s prophecy in Judges 4:9 fulfilled?
- Whom did God use to destroy Sisera?
- Why might Sisera have thought he would be safe in Jael’s tent?
Prayer Points
- Pray that God may use us mightily to achieve His purposes in the world.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.