(Judges 4,5)
(Judg 4:1-3 NRSV) The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. {2} So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. {3} Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.
A MENACE IN THE LAND
There is a formidable menace in the land--Jabin's chariots of iron under the
leadership of Sisera. These chariots gave the enemies of Israel a definite
military advantage.
(Judg 4:3 NKJV) And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he harshly oppressed the children of Israel.
It was a time of harsh oppression. It was twenty years of cruel affliction.
Were these enemies of Israel unbeatable? Not at all. Joshua had
met them in the field of battle, defeated them and burned their chariots.
(Josh 11:9 NKJV) So Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
These were not undefeatable enemies, but a defeated foe that had regained a place of superior strength because of sin. A foe that was almost completely destroyed by Joshua, is now harshly oppressing God's people. When defeated enemies regain power they usually reign with a vengeance. Jabin had a score to settle and his iron chariots gave him the upper hand.
A PROPHETESS IN THE LAND
Deborah (meaning bee, comes from a root word meaning to speak),
was a woman inspired by the Spirit of God; a woman in relationship with God; a
woman of wisdom. God revealed to her that it was time to deal with Jabin king of
Canaan, his commander Sisera and their iron chariots. In response to God's
directive:
Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali
and said to him, "Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, 'Go and march troops
at Mount Tabor; take with you 10,000 men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons
of Zebulun; and against you I will draw Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army,
with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him
into your hand'" (Judges 4:6,7).
A HUMBLE WARRIOR
Barak was from Kedesh (meaning sanctuary or sacred place), one
of the cites of refuge located in the territory of Naphtali (meaning the
wrestler). His response to Deborah was either one of unbelief or humility.
Barak, like us, may have failed to realize that the command of God comes with enablement. The key to victory wasn't Deborah, Barak or Jael, it was God Himself.
"I will deliver" (Judges 4:7)
To insure that no one receives the glory but Himself, Deborah declares, "...the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." (Judges 4:9)
A BRAVE WOMAN
The woman Deborah prophesied about wasn't herself, but Jael. Scripture
reveals that Barak defeated the army of Jabin and Sisera left his chariot and
fled away on foot to the tent of Heber. Though Heber wasn't home, Jael bid him
welcome and offered him sanctuary, milk and covered him with a blanket. As he
slept, Jael "stretched out her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the
workmen's hammer" (Judges 5:26) and "drove the peg into his temple" (Judges
4:21) and nailed him to the ground.
Barak, in close pursuit of Sisera, came to Jael's tent to inquire of Sisera's
presence. Jael went out to meet him and brought him to the place where Sisera
was nailed to her floor.
Nothing is more remarkable than the variety of instruments used by God to accomplish His desires. Amidst this variety it is important to notice the weaknesses of the instruments themselves. Ehud was hindered in his right hand. Shamgar was armed only with an ox goad. Barak was a timid man from Naphtali ( a secure place). Gideon, the least in a large family of Manasseh, threshed out his wheat secretly for fear of the Midianites. His defeat of the Midianites was accomplished with 300 men armed only with lamps, pitchers and trumpets. Jephthah was the outcast of Gilead.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
(1 Cor 1:27-29 NIV) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. {28} He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, {29} so that no one may boast before him.
(2 Cor 4:7 TLB) But this precious treasure--this light and power that now shine within us--is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.
There is no formula to follow in achieving deliverance. Othniel lead an army. Ehud built a dagger. Shamgar used an ox goad. Jael used a wooden tent peg and a hammer. It seems to me that too much emphasis is being placed on methods. If God does something in Toronto or Brownsville, we attempt to turn the event into a formula. Shamgar didn't synthesize Ehud's dagger, but used his ox goad. The results were accomplish by God through a variety of methods and mediums. Again, the key isn't the weapon, but obedience and divine enablement.
Just suppose Jael had limited herself to a method previously used by God--"I can only kill Sisera with a hand crafted eighteen inch dagger." "I can only deal with my enemy by the use of an ox goad." To the contrary, she overcame her enemy in a totally different manner. She lulled him to sleep and drove a wooden tent peg through his head. She used that which was an evidence of her pilgrim life to slay the enemy of Israel.
If Barak speaks to us of the reluctance of security, then Jael pictures for us that obedience which abandons everything to serve the purpose of God.
Deborah spoke the word, Barak fought the battle and Jael killed the commander. What was accomplished, was accomplished by God through a variety of instruments. None of us have it all. None can say to the other members of Christ's body, "I have no need of you." Each of us has a part to play, but no part is sufficient enough to be the whole.
GOD SIZED ANSWERS
God isn't looking for someone to do His job for Him. He's looking for those
who will speak His word in season, exercise obedience and put to death that
which He brings under their authority.
We are facing "God sized" problems: cancer, unchallenged enemies with iron
chariots and so on. I believe a Word has come to the house of God. It is a word
that says "God will draw our enemy into our hand and give us a "God sized"
victory.
Prayer:
Father, I am facing problems that require God sized answers. I admit that in myself I cannot overcome my enemy and his iron chariots. I also recognize that you have gifted others and given me fellowship with them. Help me to see that I am only responsible for doing what you have called and equiped me to do. Help me to be obedient! If all I have is a word to speak, help me to speak it in faith. If I am to war against Sisera, then help me to do it with total reliance upon you. If I am to use the hammer and tent peg on the temple of Sisera, then may I do it without hesitation. I am yours to use as you please.
Let's go back to JEWELS FROM JUDGES.