RTW 2024

Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.

“Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”

But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.

When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.

So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.‍

Judges 4:17-24

Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.
Judges 4:4-5

• This chapter tells the story of God’s deliverer Deborah. 
• God gave her the gift of prophecy to speak His Word of encouragement and instruction to others. 
• God used her to inspire a reluctant leader named Barak to lead Israel into battle against the Canaanites. 
• Israel is in rebellion following the last judge’s death. 
• Israel is in 20 years of bondage to the Canaanites as the cycle of progressive punishment continues.
• God disciplines people out of love to change their behavior. 
• Through this chapter we see God’s use of the meek and the humble. 
• Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14
• Proverbs 29:23; Proverbs 16:19
• James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5
• God uses a woman to bring judgment on Sisera, just as Deborah said. 
• It wasn’t Deborah. 
• We meet Jael. 
• She risked everything. 
• She showed the same kind of faith and courage as Rahab. Joshua 2:1-5
• She was obedient to God. 
• She was faithful to the call from God. 
• She was bold in her faith. 
• We can do the same…without the tent peg!

Be obedient. Be faithful. Be bold.