Day 78

The Bravery of Deborah and Jael

Judges 4:8–24

Deborah had spoken for the Lord. But Barak said, “I won’t go to war unless you go with me.”

“I will go with you,” said Deborah, “but you didn’t trust God, so you won’t get the honor of this war. God will give this victory to a woman.”

Together, they sent out a call for the men in the north. Ten thousand men joined them at Mount Tabor. But this was a small army compared to the Canaanites.

Deborah sent Barak and his army to attack. The Canaanites had no time to get ready. They were frightened and ran away. Chariots, men, and horses all trampled one another. The Lord made a river flood, and many enemies were drowned there.

Sisera, the Canaanite general, jumped from his chariot and ran away. He came to the tent of a woman named Jael. She knew Sisera and invited him in and hid him under a rug. The battle had made him so tired that Sisera fell asleep. Then Jael drove a tent peg into Sisera’s head and killed him.

So Deborah and Jael were brave enough to set Israel free.

Questions: How did the Lord help Israel win the battle? Who killed Sisera?