Jael

Are you facing a job that is hard for you to do?
Are you wondering why God chose a woman such as you?
Have you found yourself in a position you do not want to be?
And yet you know another's doubt has left the job to "me"?

Society is different now, we think more civilized;
And housewives do not find themselves required to take a life.
Yet many find they war on bended knee against principalities,
Required to act lest caught up in their plight.

Are things now spun out of control and where did it begin?
Has an enemy feigned himself a friend?
Playing on your sympathy while plotting for your end?
Terrorism is not new today, take a look at then....

Jael Judges 4:17-23

To get a clear understanding of her circumstance we must recap a bit of background.
In the first part of chapter 4 we see that Barak was charged with leading the Isreali army into battle and he told the leader of his people he would go if she would accompany him. In response to his condition Barak was told God would give Isreal victory but that He would deliver the leader of the enemy army into the hand of a woman. The fact that he had demanded Deborahs presence in the battle aside, we need to see here that the only thing more humiliating for a man than being defeated by a woman in that day would be to be delivered (or rescued) by a woman. Regardless of who fought the hardest, etc, the honor for the victory went to the person who destroyed the leader, in this instance Sisera. Barak would learn the hard way to trust in the Lord with all his heart and not to lean on his own understanding.
The battle is raging, Sisera is running for his life when he "happens" upon the dwelling of Heber and Jael. Just one more note: it was common practice for each adult family member to have their own tent, the equivalent of her workshop & bedroom combined. Now we have come to our Scripture reading.
4:17 Why did Sisera feel it was ok to enter the tent of Jael?

4:18 He was tired,
4:19 And he was thirsty,
4:20 And he was afraid.
If we did not know the prophecy and that God delivered this enemy into her hand we would see Jael in a very different light. But He did and He gave her the cunning, courage and strength to do His will.
4: 21-22 Gives us the gorey details as to what was required of Jael that day. It is good to note that Jael gave Barak event to claim destruction of Sisera and to "save face".
Chapter 5:24-27 shows us that Barak did not take advantage of her offer but declared the true facts as known to him in the song he sang with Deborah. These songs were their way of passing on historical accounts. Jael was not proclaimed Blessed because she killed a person but rather because she obeyed the Lord and used what was in her hand to do His will.
It is hard to recognize that there are people who are bound to destroy you, your nation, your way of life; and there is no amount of diplomacy that is going to deter them. Although, not as hard as it was prior to September 11, 2001. Today we can liken Sisera to Osama and perhaps better understand the situation for Isreal, Barak, and yes, for Jael.
4:23-24 Shows us that this was not the end of the battle. Yet the battle did end with the victory God had promised through His prophetess.

Regardless of the battlefield in your life today, obedience to the will of God (found in His Word) and trusting the Lord completely, combined with an humble attitude is the formula for victory. Remembering that without a battle there is no victory helps us to see with an honest perspective that which comes against us. To refocus your view see Romans 8:28-31.

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