QT 24 Jan 17, Judg 4:17-22, God expects men to show courage in danger to protect their nation and family

Judges 4:17–22 (ESV) —

17 But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’ ” 21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

NOTE: A strange story, but thematically it follows a thread. Not only does Barak fail to take the initiative to attack Sisera on the plain, he does not kill Sisera either. A woman, Deborah, gets him moving off of the mountain, and another woman, Jael, kills Sisera. The theme is pretty obvious, God is using women to do what the men are failing to do, take leadership and exercise courage. Jael took a huge chance. If Sisera had awakened as the tent peg brushed his temple, Jael would have been dead, since it almost assured that she did not have the strength of Sisera, an army commander (the very strongest women are equivalent to the lower 50 percent of men in strength--not bias, just well-established fact). Jael took a chance; she gambled with her life; Jael showed tremendous courage. In contrast is Barak, he wouldn't move off the mountain, nor would he consider attacking unless Deborah went with him. Men make lots of mistakes, and society is probably right to make fun of some of the stupid childish things that men do. But one thing a man ought to be able to do, is to protect his family and his nation, with his God given strength, courage, and aggressive nature. That is our role, and we must not shirk from it.