Sep 1, 2017
This is episode three in our series on the book of Judges and I’ve titled this lesson, “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.” I know, that’s a bit of a strange title, but I think you’ll see that it actually fits what takes place in chapter four of Judges. Here we meet Deborah, a prophetess, who will play a significant role in the deliverance of the people of God from the oppression of Jabin, the king of Canaan. Barak, a valiant warrior, was charged with the task of leading the troops of Israel into battle against the Canaanites, but he was reluctant to do so unless Deborah, the prophetess, went with him. But there’s another woman whose name gets mentioned in this chapter. She is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. This relatively obscure individual will play a major role in Israel’s victory over the Canaanites. It will be by her hand that Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, meets his untimely end. She and Deborah, two women in a culture dominated by men, would be used by God to accomplish His will for His people. They would do what the men of Israel failed to do. Deborah would lead the people into battle. Jael would singlehandedly end the life of the Canaanite commander. Two women who served the one true God, would be used by God to accomplish His will and deliver His people. They would prove to be instruments in His hands, ready, willing and able to be used for His glory and the good of His people.