“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

And the LORD sold (gave) them into the hand of Jabin king of Cannan, that reigned in Hazor’ the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.”  Judges 4:1,2

I just wanted to stop right there for a second, as we start this story, we notice that we are told that God’s people had committed evil again.

Basically, the Book of Judges has a repeating theme, God rescues and delivers them and then they would forget the sorrow of oppression of the enemy and run wild, sinning against God, and He would remove his hand, and their enemies would overtake them and they would repent, and God would deliver them again and the cycle would start all over again and again.

This is really important to understand when we talk about America in the last days, and please don’t kill the messenger.

God gives us warnings so that we will repent, and his children understand what is taking place as it happens so we will not be afraid and have confidence in the Lord’s protection and sovereignty.

In this story we will see how God uses regular people to fulfil his plans and purpose, in this case destroy Israel’s fierce enemy.

“And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he (Sisera) had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtli, and said unto him, Hath (Has) not the LORD God of Israel commanded saying, Go and draw (come) toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and the children of Zebulun?

And I will draw (lead) unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

And Barak said unto her, if thou wilt (you will) go with me, then will I go but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour (he was not going for his personal glory); for the LORD shall sell (give) Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children (lineage) of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had severed himself (cut ties) from the Kenites, and pitched a tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

And they shewed (showed) Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. (told where he was)

And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that was with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: Is not the LORD gone out before you (doesn’t the LORD go before you)? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

And the LORD discomfited (overthrew) Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted (jumped) down off his chariot and fled away on his feet.

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host (army), unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword (were slaughtered); and there was not a man left.

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me: fear not (come in don’t be afraid). And when he had turned in unto her into (went in) the tent, she covered him with a mantle (large scarf)

And he said unto her, Give me I pray thee (please), a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk. and gave him drink and covered him (covered him up so he could rest)

Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. (Stand watch and if anyone asks, I am not here)

Then Jael Herber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. so he died.

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou sleekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before (in front of) the children of Israel.”  Judges 4:3-23

She literally killed him with kindness, she gave him more than he asked for and she nailed his head to the floor.

Moral of this story, never underestimate how God can use you, as he did Jael, as she was relative by marriage to the Hebrews, even though her family was at peace with Israel’s enemies, she was still on the right side of the battle.

He uses even the simplest things in life to bring victory for his chosen and glory to His great name,

Φλογιζω NBJ 2024/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson