Women of the BibleShembull

Jael

Jael was an ordinary woman doing ordinary things. She was married to a non-Israelite, at a time when their community lived in tents. The text is clear in telling us a woman will get the glory for defeating Sisera, the Canaan army commander, and we naturally assume it should be Deborah, Israel's leader, and prophetess. But the story turned in a surprising direction when a fleeing Sisera found refuge in Jael's tent. In an instant, the great warrior who had spent 20 years ruthlessly oppressing the Israelites was killed by a woman he assumed to be his ally. Jael took the God-given opportunity, and the tools available to her, and crushed the evil commander when she had the chance. As Barak, the leader of Israel's army, pursued Sisera, he also found his way into Jael's tent. With two mighty warriors in her tent, Jael stood out as the battle's hero. Jael defeated Israel's enemy and deprived Barak of his honor (Judges 4:9). God used the "weak" to shame the "strong."

God uses unlikely people to accomplish His purposes. The honor of defeating the land's most feared man would not go to a mighty Israeli warrior or even their godly leader, but rather to a foreigner, a wife going about her day at home.

1. How can you use God-given opportunities and tools to act in faith?

Prayer – Lord, when an opportunity presents itself to act in faith, give me the bravery to do it!