SCRIPTURE: JUDGES 4
DEBORAH (vs. 1-24)
After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord. So, they were being oppressed by Sisera, the commander of Jabin, king of Canaan for 20 years. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
Deborah was the leader at that time. So she told Barak to take ten thousand men to Mt. Tabor while she was going to lure Sisera to Kishon River to be given into her hand. But Barak demanded that Deborah must go with him. So Deborah went with Barak together with ten thousand men from the tribe of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Sisera also gathers 900 iron chariots and all his men to fight against Barak. All his men and troops fell by the sword except Sisera who fled in foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kinite. He entered her tent and Jael gave him some milk to drink. While he was laying fast asleep, Jael struck him with a peg and hammer into his temple and he died. When Barak came by, Jael showed him the dead body of Sisera. Since that day, God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king before the Israelites. The Israelites grew stronger and stronger against jabin until one day they destroyed him.
THOUGHTS:
Even though the ancient society was strongly masculine, but God used two godly women, Deborah and Jael to defeat the enemy. Faith and obedience are the keys to victory.
The Israelites chose to go their ways and was controlled by the Canaanites. After twenty years of unbearable circumstances, they cried out tot he Lord for help. We often try to live our lives without God’s help that leads to struggles and hardships. When struggles come our way, let us seek His strength and guidance. Stay in daily contact with the Lord. .