Tag: Jael

Mustering Up Moxie

Judges 4-5 – Deborah and Jael 


Whenever I think of girl power, I envision caricatures of Deborah and Jael posing Rosie-the-Riveter-style in front of a tent, bloody peg in fist. Though this Bible story is a bit morbid, it is also bold and counter-cultural evidence of the power of God and his desire to use everyone for His glory. 

After Ehud died, the Israelites turned away from God, and they were oppressed by Jabin, the king of Canaan, for 20 years. Deborah became the Israelite leader during a time period in which not many women held high positions; she was not only a female judge in the same way other men in this book, like Othniel and Ehud, were judges/leaders, but she was also a prophetess and a judicial expert. God gave Deborah a message for military general Barak, guaranteeing him a victory against Sisera, the Canaanite army commander. Barak refused to go without Deborah, which could be a tribute to his faith in Deborah, a testimony to his lack of faith in God, and/or a confirmation of his general cowardice. Whichever it may be, Deborah agreed to go with the army, warning Barak that the victory for this battle in the historical record would forever be credited to a woman. 

Barak’s army managed to fatally defeat every one of Sisera’s troops – except Sisera himself, who fled on foot to the home of Heber and Jael of the Kenite tribe (which was supposedly a neutral party, friendly to both Israelites and Canaanites). Jael greeted Sisera with exceptionally devious hospitality: when Sisera asked for water, she instead gave him a skin of comforting milk to help him rest well. Once Sisera was fast asleep, she sneaked in as stealthily as a prowling cat and drove a tent peg through his head into the ground, thus practically emancipating the Israelite people from King Jabin. 

But really though, shouldn’t Jael have just stayed in her lane? Why would she rock the boat when her tribe was at peace with both sides? I mean, it was probably common knowledge that the Canaanites were oppressing the Israelites, but since she was neither, it didn’t really affect her, right? Why should she do anything to help one side or hurt the other? 

Perhaps Jael had heard rumors of the power of the Israelites’ God and didn’t want to be on their bad side. Or maybe she just had a sense that the Israelite/Canaanite relationship wasn’t right, and if she were in the position of the Israelites, she would hope that someone would come to the rescue, too. 

We aren’t privy to Jael’s thoughts, but when Sisera sought refuge in her abode, Jael was thrust into a rather precarious position that forced her to choose sides. She was granted a unique opportunity to impact great change, an opportunity that literally fell into her tent. The stakes were high (pun intended)! So Jael chose to be brave, even though it could have repercussions for her family and tribe once Jabin got wind of her actions. She had witnessed injustice and chose not to turn a blind eye when it was within her power to do something. Jael deceptively entertained the tyrannical army leader in order to gain an advantage and help the Israelites. 

Would I be like Jael, always ready to stand for what’s right even if I’m standing alone, even if it would cost me something? Or would I just mind my own beeswax and not get involved in things that don’t directly concern me, even though others are being hurt? As Christians in a first-world country, often we would rather spend energy complaining about minor inconveniences like Starbucks messing up our overpriced coffee than about serious issues that are going on in the world. Did you know that there are still people in the world suffering from starvation, lack of clean water or medical care, poverty further worsened by illiteracy, and political unrest that makes even simple daily living dangerous? Did you know that today there are more slaves than ever before? We envision all of that as happening across the ocean, but so much of it is right here under our noses. I live about 20 minutes from the intersection of two significant US highways, rendering it a major drug- and sex-trafficking hub. So much of this slavery and injustice is happening in our own backyards, and we all have a duty to do something about it. (I’m speaking to myself here too; I’ve been considering how I can get involved in the local movement to help this trafficking injustice.) We as collective Christians have neglected this duty to be involved in the world around us and contribute to change. It is so easy for us to stay in our comfy little church bubbles. But think back to the gospels for a minute… who did Jesus criticize the most – the biggest sinners or the religious leaders? Pharisees. Sadducees. The “most religious” people who ultimately cared more about their image than the One in Whose image they were created. Being Christians doesn’t give us permission to “look up at God” and away from the needs; it gives us all the more reason to see the world through “Jesus goggles” and intervene in practical ways (which James calls us to do). We can’t do everything, but we can do something. 

In Deborah’s song of praise after this victory that led to 40 years of peace for her people, she sang a line that I have adopted as a personal mantra: “March on, my soul, with courage!” (Judges 5:21). Another term for courage and determination is moxie. Deborah and Jael were definitely women of moxie! I long to become a person of righteous moxie who fights the battles God calls me to fight, always depending on His strength. 

“Deborah, the mother of Israel, and Jael, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. Did they ever even meet? Would they have been friends? This is beside the point, but still, I wonder. Living in a world where it seems like no one with any differences can get along, I wonder how two women, from such different worlds, ever came together to accomplish the same goal…. God uses the unlikely, the unexpected, and sometimes even the unsavory to deliver us and to crush the heads of his enemies. While his means of rescue may change, his promises remain permanent. So whether it’s by means of tent pegs through the head of an oppressor or nails through the hands of his son, we see yet again that we serve a God who never ceases to defeat his enemies so that his people, just like the sun, may rise in his might (Judg. 5:31).” (source)

-Rachel Cain

Reflections:

Listen to this song about being brave for God and consider how He might be calling you to be brave for Him. 


Would you, like Jael, have risked everything to stand up to an oppressor? What are some situations today in which God might be calling you to be brave and stand up for someone else?

Look for opportunities to get involved with local organizations to help with needs in your area and with the work of our international missions organization, Lord’s Harvest International, at lhicog.com. 

Pray for God to help you muster up moxie to initiate change with the injustices in the world. 

SGL.2025.MarchFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload

How Did They Forget?

Judges 3-4 and John 5

As I was reading through Judges chapters 3 and 4 I had visions of Chuck Norris. If he was armed with just one wooden pole with a metal tip (an oxgoad) could he take down 600 men like Shamgar did to save Israel? (Judges 3:31)

And, have you ever seen Forged in Fire, a competition between craftsmen who make handcrafted weapons and then put them through various tests to see which will be judged the best? I bet the judges would be impressed with the 18 inch double edged sword left-handed Ehud made that sliced through King Eglon’s belly until even the handle sank in surrounded by fat and the blade came out the back. A pity to have to leave such an impressive sword behind as Ehud cleverly escapes with his life and then leads an impressive rebellion against Eglon’s Moabites. 10,000 Moabites were killed that day and Israel victoriously rules over them for the next 80 years. (Judges 3:15-30)

And it’s hard to decide who should get the Wonder Woman award of the Bible. Both Deborah and Jael are incredibly strong and worthy candidates. Deborah, the wise judge of Israel who is bolder than Barak. She agrees to ride into battle alongside the captain of the army who wouldn’t go without her. And when the exhausted commander of the enemy army thinks he’s found safe haven in the tent of Jael, he sleeps, and she drives a tent stake through his temple and into the ground. Those, are some strong, brave ladies! (Judges 4:8-22)

God did indeed provide some very tough, courageous, wise, strong and capable men and women to fight for Israel when they were in need, surrounded and afflicted by their enemies, if they called out to Him. But, what got the Israelites into these messes over and over again? Hadn’t Joshua helped them clear the land and give them rest? The problem is – they didn’t stay faithful to the Lord. “They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.” (Judges 3:7b NIV).

How could they forget God? After all that God had done for them, over and over again through the generations. What caused their falling away, over and over again? The verse immediately preceding explains what happened. Judges 3:6 says (with my added pronoun descriptions), “They (the Israelites) took their (the unbelievers they lived amongst) daughters in marriage and gave their own (Israelite) daughters to their (the unbelievers they lived amongst) sons, and served their (the unbelievers they lived amongst) gods.” They forgot God because of who they chose to marry. Their spouses brought false and foreign gods into their marriage, into their homes, and before long into their hearts and minds and children and future generations, too. You can’t become one with an unbeliever, or a false god worshiper, and have it not negatively impact the way you love and serve the One True God. And when they served false gods it wasn’t long before God’s anger brought devastation, invaders and great trials upon them.

We all know what to look for in the perfect mate – we’ve watched the Hallmark Channel, too! She/he makes me feel special and happy, has a great sense of humor, would make a fantastic mom/dad, loves all the things I love, makes me want to be a better person, has a lot of social media friends, is super polite and friendly, has a great shoulder to cry on, shares my political and moral persuasions, even my parents like this one, has a great work ethic, we agree on the correct number and kinds of kids and pets, is so much fun to be around, is talented and smart, is quite romantic, will be a great provider, is kind to the earth, speaks my love language, is a fabulous cook and likes to clean toilets, is even good-looking, doesn’t mind my (fill-in-the-blank), and we are madly in love soul-mates.

Nope. Not a good match. Don’t tie the knot. Try again.

This time, first and foremost look for and insist upon one who loves and serves the One True God, just like you.

Period. That’s the most important. It is not a negotiable. It is not a character trait you just hope develops with more time. It is not worth the risk when the wrong spouse so easily leads to forgetting and falling away from God. It’s not worth the risk of falling into God’s wrath. “Don’t be unequally yoked with believers”, Paul said (2 Corinthians 6:14). Moses said, “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughter for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). If she/he isn’t serving the One True God they are serving false gods, even if you don’t know what those gods are named, just yet. It will leak unto you and your children and the generations that follow. Save yourself the heartache. Don’t even look at, date or consider as a mate one who doesn’t make the grade in God’s number one trait for your soul-mate spouse – he/she most love the Lord your God first and most.

I want to end today with a quick look back at what we started with today…God sending some very tough, courageous, wise, strong and capable men and women to lead and save His people. I suggest that the toughest, most courageous, wisest, strongest and most capable of them all is Jesus. These are not the adjectives most often associated with Jesus. We first think of him as a gentle, loving, humble, innocent, accepting, nice, merciful, meek, forgiving, helpful servant, a king who rides on a donkey and is crucified. And while those are not wrong, they don’t reveal his full character. Jesus was tough. We have only read the first few chapters of John and we have already seen him make a whip (impressive skill to have), overturn the moneychangers’ tables and forcefully clear the temple courtyard of the dirty animals and greedy, irreverent men. He wasn’t a wimp! He has questioned Israel’s teachers (and will use some pretty rough descriptions for them). He was wise and discerning and told it like it was. He has called out the Samaritan woman by pointing out how many husbands she has had. He wasn’t blind to sin and sinful lifestyles. And in today’s reading of John 5, after he heals the invalid of 38 years, he says, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14). He didn’t accept sin. He called people to repent and leave behind their sinful ways. And, when they did, he was full of forgiveness. Jesus is tough on sin and chosen by God to offer salvation to God’s children. But not all will receive it. Jesus is no gentle push-over. Are you ready to meet the real Jesus?

-Marcia Railton

Today’s Bible reading passages can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Judges 3-4 and John 5 .

2021-seekgrowlove-bible-reading-plan-1Download

Don’t Mess with Mama Bear (Deborah)! (Judges 4-5)

Saturday, October 1

nikki-sat-1  niiki-sat-2

Nikki Green

If you’ve seen a Mama Bear protect her cubs when they are under attack, you know how many of us moms feel at times.  I’m not typically a woman who would ever intentionally hurt someone’s feelings or raise my voice… however, God has molded me into an assertive, vocal Mama Bear when it comes to my kids.  Talk with any mom of special needs kids and you are sure to hear some “war” stories.  Our story picks up today with a new judge who referred to herself as a “Mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).  This was Deborah – AKA Mama Bear (in my mind, anyway!).  She could have referred to herself as many different titles:  judge, wife, prophetess, leader… but she chooses “mother.”  Oh how I love this woman!  As we read through this story we find a woman who is wise, kind, encouraging, passionate, faithful, brave, and ready to protect the children of Israel (her “cubs”).  Like many Mama Bears, she sees the big picture for her people.  She hears God speak to her and she takes action.  As “kids” can often break their parents’ hearts… we see bad choices have been made over that past 20 years.  God is heartbroken as their Father.  Deborah is heartbroken, as a member of God’s people – and as a spiritual mother.  The repetitive pattern of sinful living has hit rock bottom again, and the Israelites are ready for God to provide them with a deliverer.

We find Deborah leading God’s people, handling disputes, and holding court under the Palm of Deborah (4:4-5).  The Canaanite King (Jabin) and the cruel general, Sisera had made life troublesome and miserable for the Israelites.  They had a strong army of men as well as 900 iron chariots.  Deborah sent for Barak, a top officer for Israel’s army.  She said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men … I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army… and give him into your hands’” (4:6-7).  Deborah lays out God’s battle plan which made little military sense… great opportunity to prove nothing is impossible with God.  The Canaanite chariots didn’t help much in the mountains, but were extremely effective on the plains.  God was ordering Barak and his troops to go to Mount Tabor, where I’m sure every shiny piece of weaponry, chariot, and enemy could be easily observed.  Barak was then to lead them down the mountain and onto the plains – where chariots typically can do the most damage.  This makes little sense to us mere mortals.  Quick pause: Barak throws down an ultimatum and says he’s not going unless Deborah goes (4:8).  Mama Bear agrees to go, but assures him, because of this – the honor will not go to him.  The LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman, she will get the praise (4:9).  Deborah didn’t nag or abandon Barak, as he was hesitant to jump into battle.  She accompanied him and gave him strength.

I imagine Sisera felt giddy with excitement, thinking he couldn’t have planned this battle any better than this!  He could see an easy win with his 900 chariots on flat land against some rag tag bunch of men on foot.  (Think:  Tanks versus Rifles or Mama Bear versus a Duck… crazy odds, RIGHT??).  As the battle was about to begin, Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands.” (4:14). Barak led the way and charged down the mountainside with his men.  In the battle that followed, the LORD threw the Canaanites into a panic, both the soldiers and the charioteers, and the river of Kishon swept them away (5:21).  “The stars in their courses fought against Sisera” (5:20).  I’m not sure what all that entails… but I do know that God was large and in charge that day!  In all the craziness of battle, Sisera jumped from his chariot and ran on foot to escape.  Barak and his men chased the Canaanites until every man was destroyed.  Only one terrible man remained.

Evil Sisera ran to the tent of a woman named Jael.  He hoped to find safety and rest.  She invited him in, pretending to be friendly and protective.  In Judges 4:18 we see her say, “Come right in, don’t be afraid” (says the spider to the fly…I feel we have another Mama Bear, of sorts, on our hands here)!  Thinking she was a friend of the Canaanites, Sisera entered Jael’s tent.  He laid down to rest and she covered him with a blanket.  He asked for a drink of water and she gave him warm milk, and covered him again.  He was exhausted, but wanted to make sure he would be safe.  He told Jael to stand by the doorway of the tent and watch.  He said if someone asks – tell them no one is here (Judges 4:20).  Once Sisera fell asleep, Jael picked up a tent spike and hammer and quietly approached him.  She drove the spike through his temple and into the ground.  That day Sisera died by the hand of a woman.  The glory did go to a woman that day, not to Barak.  Jael was called “most blessed of women” (Judges 5:24).

I hope to be half the Mama Bear Deborah proves to be through these two chapters.  She sings praises to the LORD and recognizes all He has done.   She sang the praises of those who served – “My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people” (Judges 5:9).  She acknowledges the efforts of others and gives encouragement.  Deborah shows us that God uses men and women to accomplish His purposes.  He honors those who trust in Him.  Deborah had so much faith in God – she knew before the battle began that it was the LORD’s.  Her battle hymn in chapter 5 is an eye witness song celebration… sounding a great deal like that of a proud Mama!  She ends with a prayer “may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength” (5:31) – what an outstanding verse to pray over your cubs, and all those you care for!  Then the land had peace forty years.  Well done Deborah, well done.

nikki-sat-3