Today’s Devotion
Topic: Killed Him While He Lay Fast Asleep, Exhausted!
Text: Judges 4: 21
21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. Amen
It is very true that the Lord promised to give Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army into the hands of Barak with the honor of the victory going to a woman. Nonetheless, the processes that led to Sisera’s death remains a sad one and a big lesson for all of us who trust too much.
You see, when Deborah, the prophetess of God and Judge of all Isreal, told Barak that the Lord commands him to take with him 10,000 men of Naphtali and Zebulun and fight Sisera, he hesitated and said he will go on condition that the prophetess agrees to come with him. Deborah therefore agreed to go with Barak but assured Barak that for his lack of courage, the honor of the victory will go to a woman.
On the day of battle, the Lord was on the side of Israel. At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.
Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up. “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’”
But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.
Beloved, Sisera was an army commander yet he did not even die at war. He died because he trusted a family friend. Wounded and exhausted from war, Sisera really needed a place of refuge and before he could ask for one Jael was out to him. “Come right in” she said, “DON’T BE AFRAID”!
She covered him with blanket and even offered him milk when he asked for water. Out of trust therefore Sisera entrusted his safety into the hands of Jael and asked her to watch the door WHILE He FELL FAST ASLEEP, EXHUASTED! Jael took a peg (for securing the ropes that keep tents firm to the ground when erected) and thrusted it right through his ear area to the ground. She killed him.
Well, the lesson is simple. Tell all the people to be wary of who they let go with and those they entrust their lives to; especially whenever they are wounded, exhusted and vulnerable.Remember “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD” (Jer 17: 5). Maybe it was designed for Sisera to die this way, but his trust and vulnerability led him to it.
In your life time, love the Lord, trust only Him and make Him your stronghold. He will keep you when vulnerable and fight for you when your strength is gone. When your friendly man says to you “don’t be afraid, take milk instead of water, sleep, I will watch over you and I will hide you away from those who pursue you”; don’t trust too much. He may be more dangerous than your sworn enemy.
Like our Facebook Page: Y OUTREACH NETWORK.
