In the book of Judges chapter 4 we find Deborah was judge (and prophetess) over all of Israel (think in terms of her being a President or Prime Minister).
Judges 4 tells the story of Deborah, Barak her General in charge of the Army of Israel, and Sisera the General of the enemy Canaanite army. The Lord delivers the Canaanites, who were attacking Israel, into Barak’s hands and he defeats them in battle, but the enemy General Sisera escapes but is delivered in to the hands of Jael a woman of Godly honour.
Deborah was a mighty woman of complete authority who led Israel against King Jabin’s army led by General Sisera.
General Barak led Israel’s army under Deborah’s orders to a great victory over the Canaanites. God won the battle by confusing the enemy who were destroyed except for Sisera who escaped (he literally ran away from the battle and his Canaanite forces; he was a coward).
There is much that can be learned from this passage of scripture, but we will focus on Jael’s part of the story.
Jael was a wife and mother, honourable, faithful to God, faithful to her husband and family.
When Sisera came by her tent he was desperately trying to escape from the battle he had just lost (the Canaanites were completely humiliated by Israel). He was parched from the battle and was running away for his life, so he asked Jael for water.
As Jael’s husband (Heber) was away fighting on side with Israel, taking a strange man into her tent was risking her honourable reputation. But she did it anyway. Jael then gave Sisera warm milk to drink, a very wise thing as it put him to sleep so she could easily deal with him.
It is important to note that the Canaanites were very evil and had been oppressing Israel for some years. (We know they performed human sacrifices, self-mutilations and other horrific things). They are symbolic of all satan is about; i.e. one who is but a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy.
Let’s look at Jael’s character as defined by her name. Jael (Ya’el יָעֵל ) in Hebrew means ‘mountain goat’ or one that is swift and dwells in high places.
[This picture of a mountain goat taken by Kym at Ein Gedi, Israel]
Hunters will tell you it’s hard to catch a mountain goat, for they dwell on impossible high cliffs, are very cunning, quick, and extremely intelligent.
A mountain goat is unlike other goats. Regular goats forage in the rubbish around the camp or village; the mountain goat lives on clean fresh vegetation in the high places, and drinks pure mountain water.
Living in the high places speaks of living continually in God’s presence. Eating the clean vegetation and drinking pure water speaks of feeding of God’s word, drinking of the Spirit, living a holy consecrated and prayerful life. We can take from this that Jael while seemingly ‘just’ a wife and mother, was in fact a mighty woman of prayer and knew the Lord and His ways.
This name Ya’el also speaks of a woman of faith, integrity, strength, wisdom and who is close to the Lord in worship (high places).
Jael enticed Sisera into her tent and he quickly fell asleep. While Sisera was asleep Jael hammers a tent peg through Sisera’s head into the ground, and we get in scripture “so he died” – D’oh! {God’s great understatement 🙂 }
So it is that Jael was the one who took out the enemy general, she is not a warrior in the natural sense but is a mighty warrior in the Holy Spirit. Culturally it is a great shame on the Canaanites that women (Deborah and Jael) are responsible for their downfall. Even more so that a ‘simple housewife’ would kill the great enemy general.
God uses the seemingly weak as His mighty warriors.
This is the word of the Lord to the women, wives and mothers that serve the Lord today:
You are my chosen ones, as I call you into deeper worship and intimacy with me I will deliver great victories to you as I did with Jael.
I have seen your quiet faithfulness, do not feel insignificant or consider yourself of little importance in My Kingdom, for I have called you and equipped you with My Spirit.
Lift up your eyes and see the victories I will bring. You will see strongholds fall and people set free by My hand through your service.
Women of faith rise up! As you pray I will hear and take action!
You are called as workers to bring in my harvest. You will speak forth My faith and life bringing healing to those in need. You are called to love like I love you. Be strong and secure in My love.
You wives and mothers will stand together with your husbands and be strong in Me says the Lord. One will put to flight a thousand but two will put ten thousand to flight.
Know that you are Mine and I have called and equipped you to show forth My Glory and manifest My Kingdom.
Above all know My love is given to you, and you are My dearly beloved.
On a lighter note:
When I say I want a biblical wife …
What people think I mean: I want a wife who is passive and subservient.
What I really mean: I want a wife who is totally willing to drive a tent spike into a tyrant’s head should the opportunity arise!
You are warriors !
With so many men not acknowledging the work of women leading in the Bible, this is one of my favorite stories…I am glad to be in Deborah’s Army.