The Lord uses the unexpected: I'm baffled and still learning - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 4:9,

"...the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman."

Although Barak is recognized for his faith in Hebrews 11:32, along
with others, and we read in Hebrews 11:38 that, "the world was not
worthy of them", he showed little faith in his commission by God to
destroy king Jabin's army, and its commander, Sisera. The prophetess
and leader of Israel, Deborah, summoned Barak and told him what the
Lord had commanded of him, but Barak flinched and said he would only
go if Deborah went with him. Deborah's response must have been a
disappointment for Barak, "because of the way you are going about
this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over
to a woman."

Barak would do all the heavy lifting, and instead of earning the great
honor of doing something great for God, that honor would go to a woman
by the name of Jael, a Gentile, who would deliver the fateful blow to
Sisera. Following the events, to commemorate the day, Deborah composed
a song. In that song, in Judges 5:24-26 we read, "Most blessed of
women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of
tent-dwelling women. He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a
bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. Her hand reached for
the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck
Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple."

The account is an interesting read and it reveals some interesting
things about how God uses folks in this lost world to accomplish what
he desires. I note that the destruction of Sisera was the Lord's doing
carried out by Jael's hand, who drove a tent peg through his head. But
clearly, the Lord manipulated events such that Sisera's demise was
certain. In verse 4:15 we read of the Lord routing Sisera and setting
up the events that led to his fateful encounter with Jael.

When Sisera was fleeing Barak, who had by now entirely destroyed his
army, Jael went out to meet him. In an act of deceit, Jael tricked
Sisera into taking refuge in her tent. "Don't be afraid", verse 18. He
asked for water but she gave him milk to relax him to sleep, and when
asleep she drove the tent peg through his temple into the ground.

Now, I know there are many people who feel that the Lord would never
allow the methods of someone who would lie, deceive and trick, or even
be associated with Jael's actions in any way. However, her lies, her
deceit, her trickery fulfilled what the Lord committed himself to
accomplish and Jael received the honor for it.

Does this mean the Lord condones lying and deceitfulness? Not at all.
He condemns it. "Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,
or use your lips to deceive." Proverbs 24:28. I am mindful of the
ninth commandment to not lie. Yet, these are the very things employed
by Jael to accomplish what God desired, and she is commended for it in
Deborah's victory song. I have read a number of commentators who have
gone through no end of gyrations in an attempt to make the story into
something other than what we read.

While I am not prepared to explain it away myself, or accept the
attempts of others, I have to confess I remain somewhat perplexed over
it. The observation needs to be made that much of the book of Judges
contain accounts of those who are motivated by ungodly passions
(Samson), whose faith seems to be on life-support (Gideon) and require
conditions to do what God tells them to do (Barak). Yet throughout the
book, while mankind's sinful nature is on vivid display, God acts and
accomplishes all he desires in, among and through those who do not
often reflect his own character and nature.

What I do know is that God's character and nature is pristine, perfect
and without blemish. Our very concept of what is righteous is defined
by his own character and nature and he is entirely and perpetually and
perfectly consistent with it. In him is no wrinkle and no shadow. All
he does and all he accomplishes flow from the posture of his many
perfections.

Somehow, some way, our God of perfection finds a way to accomplish
things through sinful and imperfect people... just like me. Baffling,
isn't it?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com