Belief in a 'Dog-Eats-Dog' World

The story of Deborah cannot be told without telling the story of Jael, the one prophesied about in Judges 4:9. Jael was the wife of Heber of the Kenites who were known for their metalworking skills. (Judges 4:17-22). Perhaps it was good for business to be seen not taking sides so the Kenites choose to not live with the Israelites even though they were the descendants of the father in law of Moses.

During the battle between Barak and Jabin's armies, Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, fled on foot due to the chariots being stuck in the mud and arrived exhausted at the tent of Jael.  Sisera knew that Jabin, the king, was friendly with the family of Jael’s husband and according to the custom Jael’s hospitality guaranteed protection for Sisera.

Jael treated Sisera like a mother. She gave him milk to drink and even tucked him in with a rug. When he was sleeping like a baby she took a hammer and a tent peg and drilled him from temple to temple and fastened his head to the ground.

We will never know what drove Jael to kill Sisera. Perhaps her own life was in danger had she not killed Sisera but at this crucial time in the history of Israel God uses the body, mind and heart of the "most blessed of women" (Judges 5:24)

We face battles every day.

"The world is unprincipled.  It’s dog-eat-dog out there!  The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way – never have, and never will.  The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.  We use our powerful God-tools for smashing, warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.  Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (MSG Bible)

You need to put what you believe into action.

Perhaps you believe the battle is violence against women and children. Ask yourself how you can put your beliefs about racism into action? Do you believe something should be done about the poverty and the unemployed? Do you love animals and have compassion for them and am dismayed at their treatment?  We should pray "Thy kingdom come as it is in heaven" and then bring heaven to earth in every detail of our lives.

It was not chariots and troop numbers that made the difference.  Sisera had mighty iron chariots but was killed by a tent peg, in the hand of a woman. We need to put our belief into action and become warriors for God like Deborah and Jael.

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