A Bold Faith
There are many well-meaning people walking around on God’s green Earth who call themselves Christians but give out counsel that does not reflect the nature of Christ. I have been blessed with such friends as these over the years and I know, that as much as I hate to admit it, I have been one too.
I have suffered with migraines for as long as I can remember. These headaches can be debilitating; making the care of my family extremely difficult at times. As far as cures go, I feel as though I have tried everything. Being a lab rat for pharmaceutical companies is not my favorite thing to do, but I have taken my fair share of drugs over the years. I have also tried various diet and lifestyle changes—both to no avail. Essential oils on the neck and big toes? Yup, that too… Botox? Uh, huh…
Even after doing all of this, one well-meaning friend looked me in the eyes and said, “Have you prayed about your headaches?”
Knowing my outspoken friend and where this conversation was headed, I curtly replied, “Yes, I have. Thanks, for asking,” and tried to redirect the conversation. No luck. She persisted.
“If your faith were stronger, you would be healed…” my friend continued.
Really? So, if my faith were stronger, I could pray, and God would give me a million dollars? A mansion on the beach—with a maid? What I believe really doesn’t matter IF it isn’t in alignment with God’s word AND will for my life. You need both. Do I believe that God can heal my migraines? YES, he can. He is more than able. However, for some reason he has chosen to let them remain. Why has God let my migraines remain? Is it because I lack faith? I don’t think so…
Faith. It can be a touchy subject.
What is it? Do you have it? I’m sure you do. But do you have ENOUGH of it?
Faith is a difficult concept to understand. Even people within the Christian community grasp at its meaning. We talk about faith as if it were a possession, as something we need to own. Some speak of it as something to exercise and practice. What really matters is what God’s Word says about it and how we respond when he calls upon us to be faithful. Hebrews 11 gives us a good description of what faith is and examples of those who have exercised faith in the past. I would suggest you read it in its entirety sometime. Click here to read it right now.
Today we are going to look at one woman in scripture who had exceptional faith. God used this faithful woman to change the course of history for Israel and for the world. She is an example of unwavering faith under pressure. Judges 4 tells the complete story of Jael and how God used her bold faith to alter history.
A Bold Faith (Judges 4 Summarized)
At this point in time, the Israelites had been under the harsh rule of King Jabin for 20 years. The Lord had sold them into the hands of Jabin due to the condition of their sinful hearts after the death of their priest, Ehud. When their misery became too much to bear, they cried out to the Lord to save them.
Deborah, a prophetess, was leading Israel at this time. She called for Barak, the commander of the Israelite army and told him, “The Lord, the God of Israel commands you, ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Nephtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor.”’
Barak responds, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Very well,” Deborah said. “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.”
God had something specific laid out for Barak to do but he wavered in his faith. What was the result? (Keep reading if you haven’t figured it out…)
Can you think of a time in your life when God asked you to do something, but you wavered in your faith? What was the result? For Barak, he lost the honor of setting Israel free from bondage. Instead, the honor was given to a woman.
What You Do in Faith Matters
As fate would have it, Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Brother in law of Moses, and set up camp near Kadesh. When Sisera learned that Barak was in pursuit of him, he abandoned his chariots and men and fled. As Barak makes gains and overcomes his army, Sisera flees to the tent of Heber the Kenite.
This part of the story always amazes me. Enter Jael, the wife of Heber. Now remember, Heber is not with Jael. There are no phone or internet services. Yet, somehow, when Sisera shows up at her tent, Jael instantly knows what she must do. This can only be by the mighty working of our God.
Scripture says that Jael takes action and goes out to meet Sisera. Some paint her in a seductive light. However, God said she would be “honored” and I doubt very much that he would see such “seduction” as honorable. I think it is more an act of hospitality with an intentional plan in the works.
“Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” Jael invites him into her tent to fulfill what Deborah the prophetess had already prophesied.
Sisera trusts Jael. Why? There is lots of speculation. All we really know is what scripture says– Heber used to be a part of the Kenites. Therefore, there seems to be some feeling of an alliance or trust here.
Sisera asks for water because he is thirsty. Jael, being the hospitable woman that she is, gives him some milk. This too, I find surprising. Why milk? Did she warm it up for him? Was she trying to help him fall fast asleep? We don’t know because scripture doesn’t say but I find it puzzling. And maybe a little entertaining since I know the outcome.
Then, after he is “safely” hidden and tucked in she picked up a tent peg and hammer and quietly went to him. Scripture says, “She drove the tent peg through his temple into the ground and he died.”
That is one bold woman!
Can you just imagine the mess? I mean, think about it. How many times did she have to swing that hammer? Can you hear the crunch of the skull? See the splattering on the tent and the grey matter oozing out…? It wasn’t pretty. I get queasy just thinking about it. In all seriousness, I have a difficult time even picturing such a scene. You may be thinking, “Yeah, but it wasn’t that risky. After all, Sisera was asleep.” Don’t be fooled! He was a warrior who was being pursued. You can bet that he was armed. What courage, boldness, and faith it took for Jael to act on God’s behalf!
I keep wondering, “How long did Jael have to wait before Barak showed up to take this gory mess of a man out of her tent? What did Jael think as she was waiting?”
If Jael were alive today, I bet her thoughts would be something like, “I do the dishes, take out the trash, clean the floor, take care of the kids, get them off to school, taxi them to their extra-curricular events, put tent pegs through bad guys, and now I have to mop up this mess before I can start dinner!”
When Barak did finally come by, Jael brought him to her tent and showed him the man he was looking for. God used Jael to subdue Jabin, the Canaanite King before all of Israel. And so, the story ends. God used a faithful woman with a hammer and a tent peg to save Israel from a mighty warrior. Jael knew her actions mattered. Though she was a woman, God used her to perform a major military conquest. What can we learn from Jael?
When God Speaks, We Need to Listen and Take Action
“Jael went out to meet him (Sisera)…” Jael wasn’t surprised when Sisera showed up; she was expecting him. God had told her what to do and she trusted him. Jael lived out her faith because she was sure of what she hoped for and certain that God would do what he said. Could the same be said of you and me?
Jael’s faith in God was complete–without reservation. She was at peace and did not hesitate to invite Sisera into her home. A gesture of hospitality, something so simple and often overlooked—but not by God—was used to change the course of Israel!
How about you? Are there areas in your life that need improvement? Do you have complete faith in God? Learning to have complete faith in God can be challenging but I assure you it is not impossible. If you would like to look at this topic more in depth, use this Bible study.