Jael and the Tent Peg
We continue our study with the Book of Judges by moving further into Chapter 4. We are following a six-week Bible Study by Katie M. Reid entitled, “God, What Do I Do?” This study is based on the Book of Judges, Chapters 1-5, and we are digging into what these lessons teach us about making wise decisions in uncertain times.
Today, we are studying Judges 4:17-23 NLT and our focus is, “God, What Do I Do When I’m Bombarded by Lies?”
I believe it would astound us if we actually knew how many lies we have believed over our lifetimes. How about how many lies we have told? Researches have studied the subject of people telling lies and the average person tells 1-2 lies/day. Falsehood is nothing new; it is the cause for the Fall of humanity. So, if the research is true we may be around a lot of people who may or may not have a conviction to tell the truth.
If we know Jesus, we know the Truth, so anything that is contrary to His love, character, actions, or Word is either twisted truth or a direct lie. Satan is the father of lies and he is always trying to manipulate our flesh. Therefore, we must put on the helmet of salvation so we can combat the lies that try to enter our thoughts, because we certainly don’t want to act upon them.
In our passage, we meet Jael the wife of Heber who becomes the host of Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. Sisera leaves his chariot during the battle with Barak and the Israelites and runs into Jael’s tent because Jabin and Heber shared a measure of peace. Jael greets Sisera with hospitality as is the custom. She gives him something to drink, puts a blanket over him, then positions herself to watch from the tent entrance. Sisera instructs Jael to lie if anyone asks about him (Judges 4:20). As soon as Sisera falls into a deep sleep, Jael takes a tent peg and drives it through his temple and into the ground.
Barak does come looking for Sisera and Jael takes him into the tent to reveal the Truth. She was not willing to lie, because it is the Truth that sets us free. When Barak saw the situation, he remembered the prophetic words of Deborah. Barak asked for Deborah to accompany him into battle. Deborah replied, “Very well…I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman” (Judges 4:8-9). Jael is the woman who took down evil trying to hide in her dwelling place.
Judges 4:17-23 NLT
17 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. 18 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.
19 “Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.
20 “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”
21 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.
22 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.
23 So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king.
We may struggle with these Old Testament stories, but the Israelites faced terrible consequences because they did not fully obey God in the first place. Therefore, God used the obedience of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Barak, and Jael to clean up the mess and bring a new beginning to a new generation of Israelites. Remember, Jesus has defeated our enemies in order to bring us new life. He used the truth of God’s Word to mail the lies to the tree upon which He died. Now, we move forward by obedience and faith able to recognize and reject the lies of the enemy.
Truth: When you are bombarded with lies, decide to let the truth of God’s Word rise above the deception of the world.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for equipping us to recognize and reject the lies of the enemy. We can live in the Truth, because You have overcome the work of evil. If we still have areas in which we have believed a lie, we ask for You to reveal the errors of our thoughts and lead us deeper into the truth. If we have lied to others to cover our sin, convict us to bring forward the Truth and be cleansed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.