After Judge Ehud’s death, the Israelites fell into sin and were conquered by the Canaanites under King Jabin.

His formidable general, Sisera, commanded an intimidating army with 900 iron chariots.

Deborah, Israel’s new judge, told her general Barak that God would deliver Sisera into his hands.

When Barak hesitated, requesting Deborah accompany him to battle, she agreed but prophesied: “Victory will come through a woman’s hands.”

The Lord routed Sisera’s forces completely — every soldier perished except Sisera himself, who fled on foot.

He sought refuge at the tent of Heber the Kenite, whose tribe had historically been friendly with Israel since Abraham’s time.

However, Heber had recently allied with the Canaanites.

Finding only Heber’s wife Jael at home, Sisera begged for sanctuary.

She welcomed him inside, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

When the exhausted general asked for water, Jael gave him milk instead. Trusting her completely, Sisera fell into a deep sleep.

Though her husband had betrayed their ancestral alliance with Israel, Jael remained faithful to Yahweh.

While Sisera slept, she took a tent peg and hammered it through his temple into the ground, killing him instantly.

Deborah’s prophecy was fulfilled — victory came through a woman’s hands.

Sisera, who thought he’d found safety, instead met his end.

God delivered His people through unexpected means: a simple tent peg in the hands of a brave woman.

Just as God brought victory through Jael’s unconventional weapon, He would later bring salvation through the most unexpected means of all — the nails that held Christ to the cross for our sins.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

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