J is for Jael

J is for Jael

Action First, Applause Later

Jessica Lynch was virtually unknown outside of her home town of Palestine.  West Virginia, until the Iraq War.  But when this 19 year old soldier was caught in an ambush, endured broken bones, gunshot and stab wounds, and then was rescued by U.S. soldiers, this country girl became a national hero.

Name: “Mountain Goat”

Date: 13^th Century B C

Identification: Wife of Heber, Jael demonstrated her loyalty to Israel.

Story Line: Jael drove a tent peg through the temple of Sisera

Read it in the Bible: Judges 4:1-24

The Bible has its share of Jessica Lynch stories.  It’s filled with gripping accounts of obscure people who rose to meet challenges when they needed to.  One of those obscure people is Jael, a homemaker in Israel.

Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law.  Historically the Kenite tribe had been long—standing allies of Israel.  However, Jael’s husband, for whatever reason, chose to side with the Canaanite king, Jabin, in his struggle against Israel.  But Jael demonstrated her loyalty to Jehovah in one of those unique history-making events.  She invited Sisera; Jabin’s general, into her tent where she gave him milk to drink instead of water.  That made him sleepy.  While Sisera snoozed, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple into the ground.  God subdued the Canaanites using a single act of bravery by an obscure housewife.

Do you feel too obscure, too distant from the podium, too far from the spotlight to be used by God?  If so, learn from Jael.  She didn't leave the spotlight to perform an act of bravery; she acted and then stepped into the spotlight.  It’s action first, applause later.  Do whatever it is God has for you to do, and He’ll take care of the applause.

                                                  by Dr. Woodrow Kroll