A Rug, a Bottle of Milk, and a Peg

O. T. #516  "A Rug, a Bottle of Milk, and a Peg"
May 12, 2015
Judges 4-Part 3
And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink: for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.  Judges 4:19

LET IT GLOW

After 20 years of oppression by Jabin and his military leader Sisera, Israel is finally delivered. Judge Deborah told Barak of God's instructions of using 10,000 Israelites to war with these Canaanites. God would give the victory, but a woman would be honored for her role. The Israelite troops went up Mt. Tabor and a Heber the Kenite told Sisera. Then Sisera took his army and 900 iron chariots into battle. But God brought a flashflood and bogged down those chariots in the what was a dry riverbed. So the drivers fled on foot, and were destroyed by the Israelites. Their leader, Sisera, was included in the group who fled on foot.

Let's pick up the story there:

• This great army leader ran away from the Israeli army seeking refuge, and ended up at the tent of Heber the informer. (Can't you picture a chubby general in all his garb trying to run for his life?) 
• His wife, named Jael, invited Sisera into their tent. This soaking wet leader  was much obliged and went inside.
• Being soaked to the bone, Jael covered Sisera with a mantle, a rug.
• He asked for a drink of water and Jael gave this army officer a bottle of milk. Falwell describes this milk as liquid yogurt or the term for curd-butter. Whatever it was, a bottle of milk, it hit the spot and Sisera, probably exhausted from running, lay down to sleep and Jael covered him with the rug.
• Sisera instructed Jael to not tell anyone who inquired about the presence of one inside her tent. Little did Sisera know that he asked the wrong person to stand guard over him.

Are we hospitable we someone comes to our door? Are we discerning toward ways to meet another's need? Do we recognize the enemy?


LET IT GROW

Whoever says the Bible is boring reading hasn't read this story, account that actually happened.
Look at verse 21, NIV: But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted.  She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

She nailed him, didn't she? Nailed him to the floor, she did. Guess Sisera never knew what hit him.
Anyway, Barak, who was in pursuit of Sisera, was met by Jael, offered to show him the man Barak was looking for. This heroine delivered Israel from their enemy. God subdued Jabin and the children of Israel prospered and had peace for the next 40 years. (The next chapter is a poem/victory song about this event.)

Sisera just thought he was in a safe place (Jael's tent became his place of death).
God can use even a woman to accomplish His will and purpose.

Are we willing to be used by God?
As Jael had to bow down to accomplish her feat. So must we bow down to King Jesus to accomplish His will.
Do we offer all that we have for God's use and glory? Who knows, it may only take a blanket (rug), a drink of water or milk, or a nail offered in the name of Jesus that shows another His love.
What do you have that God wants to use for Kingdom work?
Will we offer Jesus our all to be used and shared to meet another's needs? (Sometimes it only requires our time, a few minutes of listening.)

LET IT GO

Give everything I have for Jesus' use and glory.

Look around to see the needs of others and help them.

Honor the Lord with it all.

Always be aware of who and what is going on around me.