The Power Behind the Promise

FEMALE PROMISE SEEKERS SERIES

God’s Secret Weapon

There’s nothing like starting off the New Year introducing “Jael, God’s Secret Weapon.” She’s a part of the “Female Promise Seekers Series.” In the Hebrew language, her name translates “she shall ascend or go up.”

Unfortunately, there’s very little information written about Jael’s background. Her courage prompted me to take a look into her story to learn just who she was to God.

The Bible tells us that Jael was married to Heber the Kenite, and she was known for being a homemaker. The Kenites were related to the Midianites. They were long-time allies of Israel, but Heber was a traitor who secretly sided with Israel’s enemy.

Jabin, King of Caanan, was Israel’s oppressor. He tormented Israel for 20 years. Sisera was the commander-in-charge of Jabin’s army. His plan was to conquer Israel and deliver them into King Jabin’s hands.

Deborah was Israel’s fifth judge, and she was the only female judge to preside over Israel. She was the wife of Lappidoth, and she was a prophetess.

Deborah summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, and she spoke a Rhema word from the LORD saying, “The God of Israel commands that you go and march to Mount Tabor and take with you 10,000 men of war from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his infantry to meet you at the river Kishon, and I will hand him over to you.”

After hearing the message, Barak was willing to go, but there was a stipulation, Deborah had to accompany him. Reluctantly she agreed, but not before prophesying that the victory would not be for Barak’s honor and glory. Instead, she foretold that Israel’s war was destined to triumph via a female.

Whose Report Shall We Believe?

“Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?”– (Isaiah 53:1)

Barak and his army of 10,000 marched to Mount Tabor, and Deborah accompanied him. First, she told Barak to rise up because the Lord had given Sisera into his hands. Then she questioned his faith by asking, “Has the Lord not gone before you?” So, Barak went down from Mount Tabor with his army behind him.

Sisera heard that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor. He summoned 900 iron chariots and the people with him to divert from the area and go to the river Kishon. The Lord smote Sisera’s army and the host with the edge of the sword as Barak watched. There wasn’t a man left alive.

Sisera dismounted from his chariot and ran away on foot. He came to Heber’s tent because they were peaceful with one another. When Jael saw Sisera, she ran out to meet him. He went into the tent with her, and he asked her for some water to relieve his thirst. She opened a skin of milk, and she gave him a drink. Then she covered him with a rug. Then he asked Jael to stand at the tent’s door, and if any man comes and requests, is there a man here? Tell him, “No.”

Jael came from behind while he was asleep, holding a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, she drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and He died.

Shortly after Sisera’s death, Barak came to Heber’s tent looking for Sisera. Jael came out to meet him. She led Barak inside and showed him Sisera lying dead with the tent peg in his temple. Then, just as prophesied, a woman was given the honor and victory over Barak.

Trial By Fire

This was a trial by fire, and Jael survived. Regardless of the vessel that God chooses to use, they are strong when moved by the Spirit of God. God can use anyone who is obedient to His will. He made it known through the Prophetess Deborah that a woman is able to fight and win against the enemy, just as a man. And as prophesized, the woman that killed Israel’s long-time enemy was credited with honor and glory from God.

The Truth of the Matter

It may appear as though the enemy is fighting against us (flesh and blood), but the battle belongs to the Lord, and anyone on the Lord’s side wins! All power belongs to God, and every battle is already won!

Let’s sing and rejoice!

“Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,

blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

He asked for water, and she gave him milk;

She brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

She put her hand to the nail and her right hand to the workman’s hammer;

and with the hammer, she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell down: where he bowed, there he fell down dead” (Judges 5:24-27).

The song continues with a testimony from Sisera’s mother as she looked out a window and cried for the return of her son. The last verse of the song reads, “So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD; but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years” (v.v. 28-31).