Jael: An Ordinary Woman of Radical Boldness

I love to think about Jael. She was an ordinary woman, more known for whose wife (Heber the Kenite) she was than for anything else. She did not live in a large city. In fact, the Bible says that Heber moved them away from other members of his tribe and he pitched their tent by an oak tree.

In a battle with the Israelites, Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army, ran from his chariot after all his men were killed. His path took him straight to the tent of Heber and Jael. Seeing that he was exhausted from running, Jael invited him into the tent, giving him milk to drink and covering him with a blanket so he could sleep. He thought that he had found safe haven in Jael’s tent.

However, what she did next changed the destiny of every Israelite from that time forward. She crept up upon Sisera as he slept. Taking her tent peg and hammer, Jael DROVE THE PEG THROUGH HIS HEAD, hitting it with so much force that Sisera was pinned to the ground! (Read the whole account in Judges 4: 17- 24)

Jael was an unknown woman who was going about her daily business when the enemy was delivered into her hand. Using what she had available, she took him down with radical boldness. She did not stop to consult a committee or an etiquette book. She did not wring her hands with indecision about what to do with this enemy. She swiftly performed an act of war that most of us would run from and she did it with aplomb and strength.

Although we do not know much more about her, Jael was a woman who knew who she was. She was sure of her identity even though her life was not embellished with fame or recognition. Old wineskins, like the traditions of hospitality, could not contain the new wine of who God had called her to be. She understood about partnering with God to accomplish His huge plans and purposes for the Israelites.

Graham Cooke says, “He (Jesus) came talking about possibilities. He said everything is possible, even things that are impossible with man are totally possible with God, and all you have to do is believe. It is like, you have got the easy part of the job, you just get to believe Us. We have to do all the work. We need to be giving the Holy Spirit more work to do. Faith gets Heaven working. Faith means that we are in partnership with God.”

God will not accept your excuses either of why you cannot do what He has given into your hands to do. Imagine Jael trying to reason with God about why she could not kill Sisera. “I just mopped the floor and all that blood will make a mess!” “I do not have a sword or spear like real warriors use.” “I am a woman! What can I do?”

When Moses tried to talk God out of sending him before Pharaoh, God did not accept any of his excuses. When God looks at us, He always sees us from His point of view and that view point has no limitations. He sees us from victory into victory. He sees all of Heaven behind us. He knows that we cannot fail when we simply obey Him.

Even Gideon’s poor opinion of himself did not move God. God waited until Gideon began to see himself from Heaven’s point of view and then they partnered together for victory.

What is a possibility you can believe for in your Lighthouse, in your Area, that is so wild and beyond your capabilities that it can be only accomplished when you partner with Him? What can you give the Holy Spirit to do that will delight Him with your faith?

Each one of us holds a claim, a stake, a peg in the Kingdom of God. What will you do with the peg that is in your hand?

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Acts 17:26 clearly tells us that God has chosen the time we are on earth down to the very place we shall live. He certainly had Jael in the right place at the right time. He has you positioned as well. He has your team positioned in the exact town that needs the assignment He has given into your hands to be carried out. He planned ahead and, like Jael, He has given everything into your hands that you will need.

Genesis 3:15 clearly identifies one of the roles of women. As God finishes giving the serpent his punishment for deceiving Eve, He finishes him off with a promise to women. “There will be enmity between you and the serpent, between your seed and hers. You will bruise her heal, but through her will come a seed, Jesus, who will live in My children all down through time and no matter the generation, those kids will rise up and CRUSH your head.”