WOMEN WITH TENT PEGS

So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Judges 4:9a

Jael’s story always fascinates me, so much so that I find myself coming back to it year after year. This woman’s wisdom, ingenuity, and bravery cannot be overlooked. In all honesty, it should be highlighted as a learning lesson for all women of God. With just a simple tent peg, Jael single-handedly killed Sisera, the enemy of God’s people. But what if I told you, it wasn’t just the tent peg that did the job? You see, Jael probably had years of experience nursing babies, putting them to sleep, and caring for their needs. At the right time, God would use her homemaking skills to slay the commander of Jabin’s army.

Jael covered Sisera with a blanket to make him feel comfortable, demonstrating meekness. She gave him milk, knowing that cream would lull him to sleep after all his fighting, demonstrating wisdom. After he was relaxed, warm, full, and asleep, she took a peg with a hammer and drove it into his temple, demonstrating ingenuity. You see, it wasn’t just the tent peg that slayed the enemy but Jael’s fearlessness. It was her ability to think quickly. It was her ability to recognize a foe from a friend and not allow him to get too comfortable in her house!

Sisters, in this hour of great darkness, you cannot afford to be slow to think and slow to move. You cannot allow the enemy to get comfortable in your homes. You must use what God has given you, those spiritual weapons that are not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4), to drive the enemy away from your family. Like Jael, you must be willing to be fearless! You must be bold! You must be courageous!

Perhaps you’ve never held a microphone, and maybe your face isn’t on a flyer. That’s alright! God can still use you and what you have. In this hour, we need women with more than just tent pegs; we need women with the power of the Holy Ghost ready to drive their spiritual weapons into the head of the enemy with their prayers and the Word of God—sharing the gospel in the four corners of the earth knowing that soon, the end shall come.

Sheena Jean-Francois is the Assistant Pastor of Eagles Wings Judah Worship Center in Saint Mary’s, Georgia. She has a D.Min. in Discipleship and Leadership. She serves on South Georgia’s African Descent and Credentialed Women Ministers Board. She is passionate about discipleship for Millennials and Gen Z as they are the church's future leaders.