So far in Judges we have seen unusual characters and means of victory. An ordinary, God-fearing man. A left-handed man. An outsider. All of these have demonstrated the different ways God uses different people, often those the world would not choose, to fulfil his plan.
Judges in Chapter 4 God further demonstrates his use of unusual means to save his people; two women. Where the men are weak, fearful, and cowardly, two women are brave and courageous, striking a blow for freedom.
Ehud’s victory over Eglon brought peace to Israel, but that peace was imposed and when Ehud died, Israel reverted to its wilful, disobedient ways (v.1). Again, God disciplined Israel by placing under the yoke of Jabin, a king in Canaan, and his general Sisera (v.2). And true to the pattern, Israel cried out to God, asking for deliverance again (v.3).
The men of Israel appeared to be weak and incapable of providing spiritual or physical leadership, which is apparent in this passage. Leadership of some sort is instead provided by a woman named Deborah, whom God has called as a prophetess and provides some sort of magistrate role (vv.4-5).
Deborah called Barak to take leadership of Israel’s military in the north (around Galilee), and defeat the pagans who oppressed God’s people (v.6). Barak was instructed by God to assemble an army of ten thousand at Mount Tabor, and from there march out to where God would deliver them into Barak’s hand (vv.6-7).
Unfortunately, Barak feared Sisera’s chariots (v.3), thinking he and his men would be slaughtered. He would only go if Deborah came with them, as a sign of God’s presence (vv.8-9). Barak abdicated his leadership.
To emphasise Barak’s cowardice, it would be a woman who delivered the blow for God, not him (v.9).
The Israelite force, with Barak and Deborah, gathered at Mount Tabor, while Sisera and the chariots gathered nearby in a valley to smite the upstarts (vv.10,12-14). Meanwhile, a certain Kenite (with family links to Moses) and his wife had relocated to the area (v.11).
While strategy, force of arms, and tactics may win battles between nations today, it is God that grants victory for his people. “the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword” (v.15). The 1200 BC equivalent of a tank was no match for God, defeated by God sending a rainstorm to flood the valley and bog down the chariots (5:21).
Mighty general Sisera fled the area on foot, leaving his troops to be slaughtered to a man by the suddenly emboldened Barak and troops (vv.15-16).
Ordinarily Barak as leader would bag the prize of Sisera, but God was clear through Deborah that an unlikely vessel of victory would deal to him (v.9). That woman was Jael, wife of the Kenite who had moved to the area (v.11) and who apparently was in league with Jabin and his rule over Israel (v.17).
Thinking that he was at a place of refuge, Sisera was easily deceived by Jael’s invitation and provision to think he was safe (vv.18-20). He lay down to sleep, weary from his flight and the pursuit of Israel.
At this point, Jael took a tent peg (a large wooden peg) and smashed it into Sisera’s head! Unfortunately for Sisera it seems that Jael was no fan of him or Jabin’s acts, and she much preferred God over her husband’s alliances. The mighty warrior, who brought fear to Israel for his king was killed by a woman (shock horror), not the leader of Israel’s resistance (v.21). All Barak was there to do was to confirm the kill (v.22).
On that day, God overcame the enemy of his people through two unlikely vessels; two women who respectively led, and bled a general (v.23). From that blow, Israel was able to drive out and destroy Jabin and his rule over them (v.24).
Clearly, no mighty warrior of Israel conquered Sisera and Jabin. It was God who was victorious, sending the rain which made the chariots useless, and sending Sisera to Jael’s tent, where he met his judgement.
The message of this passage is that it is God who delivers and saves. Two women are the unlikely vessels by which God raised an army and drove a tent peg.
In our lives, it is God who delivers and saves through having taken human flesh. And, in unlikely fashion, being born in a lowly cattle stall, living a humble life, and dying a criminal’s death on the Cross for us.
This passage is not about women’s roles in church life, though in it women play a big role due to their men’s weakness. And all women certainly have a role to play in many parts of church life. Instead, this is a passage about how God saves despite manly weakness, through what the world sees as unlikely heroes called to a special role, as vessels of salvation for God’s People.
