Real Hope: Women in the Bibleናሙና

Jael

Jael was a fearless woman whose courage and prompt action resulted in a big victory for Israel. Her story demonstrates how God loves to use seemingly insignificant people to accomplish His purpose. Israel had turned away from following God and was being oppressed by the Canaanites. So, God raised up judges to bring the Israelites back to Himself. One of these judges was a prophetess named Deborah. On a word from God, Deborah called for Barak, Israel’s military leader, and instructed him to go to battle. She prophesied to him that God would deliver Sisera, the Canaanite military leader, and the Canaanite armies into his hands. Barak fearfully replied that he’d only go if she went with him. Deborah agreed to accompany him; however, she prophesied that God wouldn’t deliver Sisera into Barak’s hands. He’d be delivered into the hands of a woman.

Jael was not an Israelite. In fact, Jael’s husband was a friend of the Canaanite king. As a result, on the day of battle it was only natural for Sisera to seek sanctuary from her. She greeted him and assured him not to be afraid. He enlisted Jael’s assistance in hiding him, directing her to lie to everyone who came looking for him. Jael offered him milk and advised him to rest. Sisera fell fast asleep, exhausted. Then Jael grabbed a tent peg and a hammer and drove the tent peg through Sisera’s temple. Thus, Sisera was ‘delivered into the hands of a woman’, and Jael secured a victory for Israel. To celebrate their victory, Deborah sang a song of victory for Israel. In her song, she praised Jael for killing Sisera, paying a high tribute to this brave woman by calling her ‘most blessed is she of women’. God also chose Jael, a non-Israeli lady, to deliver Israel. At times we may feel insignificant, but be encouraged, God delights to use individuals who others dismiss as insignificant to reveal His glory.

Written by HEIDI WYSMAN