She Nailed Him - Jael

Artemisa Gentileschi - 1620

On my way to Gideon, I became enthralled with Jael, just one chapter before Gideon's encounter with God.

I get lost with this woman and what she accomplished.  As I went to Bible commentaries, I become more interested and I quietly listened for the lesson that was being voiced in my spirit.

Many of us know the story and yet, I never remembered her name.  As I see Deborah immortalize her in her victory song, Judges 5:24-27, I started to look at this unconventional woman of God.

She doesn't appear to be the example we usually place before us as a Godly woman.  Most of us will never be known, or do we want to be known, as a murder.  Yet, she is called "blessed of all women in the tent."  Now, I would be honored with that title.

Here is a summary:

• God has Deborah prophesy to  Barak that the victory will be won, but it will be at the hand of a woman. (Judges 4:9)
• Jael invites the "enemy" Sisera into her tent.  She hides him, provides milk and a blanket...leads him to believe she will protect him (Judges 4:18)
• She doesn't stop to pray, or it isn't mentioned, she doesn't go to ask counsel of her husband (she knew he would not approve) she just takes matters into her own hands (in no way am I saying don't ask counsel from husband, nor to go against his will.  I am just stating what happened in scripture) (Judges 4:21)
• Because the women of her day set up the tents, she was familiar with the tool she used to defeat her enemy
• She nails him to the ground!!!!  Scripture is very graphic in how she did this....not a dainty, gentle, woman doing this!  A courageous, strong, determined, and confident woman.
• She meets Barak at the tents entry to bring him to the death of the enemy (Judges 4: 22)
• Judges 5:6 goes on to tell us "in those days, the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byway"....she was known for her defeat and there was caution used from then on
• She is praised in scripture not for her submissive or gentle virtues, but for her heroism through a gory act that freed her country of oppression!! (Judges 5:24 - 27)

These passages brought up a lot of questions and thoughts.  God does things His way...not ours.  He called a prophet to lay on his side naked and a woman to kill a man with a peg.  How many times do I put limits on God...surely that couldn't be God?  How many times do I have the skill and the peg to nail the enemy and yet I don't want to get my hands dirty?  How many times has God called the powerless to defeat the powerful and yet, I am still waiting for another confirmation?


I was amused that her story is between Barak and Gideon.  Barak wouldn't go into battle without Deborah and so God gave the victory to a woman.  Gideon obeyed after countless confirmations, questioning, and hiding in the dark to accomplish his mission.  Here, in the middle of them both, was Jael...she invited him in, she took the peg and Nailed the problem to the floor.
Oh Lord, may I have the spirit of Jael and nail the enemy to the floor!!!!
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Eph. 6:12.