Judges 4:1-3 After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.
4-8 Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”
Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.”
Everybody knows Deborah. Deborah’s reputation as a wise woman led of God has resonated throughout all Israel, and people flock to her for godly advice. Now God is speaking through Deborah to Barak, that Barak should gather 10,000 warriors together to deliver Israel from the Canaanite king Jabin. God knows what He can do through Barak; however, Barak doesn’t know God. Barak has more faith in Deborah than he does in God, and he will lose the credit for victory as a consequence.
9-11 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.
Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.
At least Barak can follow instructions. But as battle looms, he’s still trusting more in Deborah than in God. Perhaps Barak thinks Deborah is some kind of miracle worker. Anyway, battle is about to start.
12-16 When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive.
WOW! What an incredible victory. God throws the enemy warriors and the horses of the 900 chariots into a panic. Once those chariot horses begin rearing and snorting, they run helter-skelter through the battlefield, mowing down many of their own troops. If the Canaanites have mounted sickle blades on the chariot wheels, the carnage might be even worse. As the Canaanite warriors flee, Barak’s soldiers begin picking them off with carefully aimed shots.
How accurate are these ancient slings and at what range? Online investigations reveal the following: Ancient slings (often mistakenly referred to as slingshots, which require 19th-century rubber) were considered highly accurate by contemporary standards, with an effective combat range often exceeding 200–400 meters for area targets and 20–50 yards for precision shots.
Key findings on the accuracy and range of ancient slings include:
- Effective Combat Range: While maximum distance could exceed 400 meters, effective accuracy for hitting groups of soldiers was generally considered to be in the 100-meter range, often matching or exceeding the effective range of bows.
- Precision Accuracy: Highly trained, expert slingers (such as those from the Balearic Islands) could hit small targets at distances of roughly 20 yards or more.
- Ammo Impact: Using specially crafted lead bullets, Roman-era slingers could achieve lethal accuracy and force similar to a modern .44 magnum handgun.
- Accuracy Factors: Accuracy depended heavily on the user’s skill, which required years of practice, and the use of consistent, molded ammunition (clay or lead) rather than random, irregularly shaped stones.
In summary, for accurate “sniper-like” shots, they were effective within 20–50 yards, while for military, battlefield-level accuracy (hitting large groups of men), they were effective at distances exceeding 100 meters.
In other words, if Barak has soldiers who are proficient with slings, they can pick off the enemy without risking themselves. It’s even possible that some of the enemy soldiers might die simply from sudden heart arrythmias brought on by panic. But the enemy commander remains at large.
17-24 Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.
“Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”
But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.
When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.
So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.
When Sisera finds Jael in Heber’s camp, he thinks he’s safe. After all, Heber is an ally of sorts, and as a mere woman, Jael must follow Sisera’s orders. But Jael has observed Sisera for a long time and she knows how dangerous he can be. Perhaps Sisera’s men have abducted and raped some of the girls from Heber’s camp. At any rate, Jael knows Sisera must not leave her tent alive. Fueled by the strength of desperation, Jael waits until Sisera is sleeping and then drives a tent peg through his temple, pinning his head to the ground and killing him. Deborah’s prediction has come true; God has given the ultimate victory to a woman, rather than to Barak.
While Romans 11:29 remains true- “The gifts and the calling of God are without repentance,” it’s also true that when God needs a job done, He will look for those available rather than those who are qualified. Jael is probably a sweet, gentle, peaceful lady known for her outstanding hospitality; violence is the last thing anyone would anticipate from Jael. But when God moves Jael, she acts rather than dithering. Barak is a ditherer, so although he does lead 10,000 troops into battle, he demands Deborah accompany him, and he loses credit for Sisera’s death to Jael.
God’s purposes will not be frustrated. If God is calling you to a work, rest assured that He will also empower you and provide everything you need to complete that work. But if you dither and refuse God’s call, He will find someone else. You might receive some credit, but the major credit will go to the one who allows himself/herself to be used without hesitation.
Does Barak lose out entirely? No, he does not. In Hebrews 11:32, Barak is listed along with “Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.” Barak does have some faith, and it undoubtedly expands exponentially as he watches his troops slaughter the Canaanites.
What can we learn from Barak?
- If God calls you, God will equip you. Don’t look at your own weaknesses but remember that you are serving an Almighty God.
- When God calls you, God will provide someone to stand with you. Deborah accompanies Barak throughout the battle and God raises up Jael to strike the final blow.
- TRUST GOD!!! First and last, trust that the God who called you is able to do great things through you.
- Remember Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can overflow with confident hope, not because of our own strength but because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, may all who read these words swiftly say “yes” to Your calling, knowing that You will send Your Holy Spirit to empower them. And may they overflow with joy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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