Discover an Unexpected Excuse to Read the Bible

We devise many excuses to avoid reading the Bible. “I don’t have time. The Bible is boring. I don’t understand it. I don’t get anything out of it. I’m not smart enough.”

For the first time, I set a goal to read the entire Bible in 2020, along with my church. I agree the Bible is repetitive at times, especially the exhaustive genealogies. (Not to discount the importance of them, but they are boring.)

But what is an unexpected excuse to read the Bible?

There are countless exciting stories in the Bible. Murder, romance, adultery, intrigue, military battles, and amazing miracles. Not to mention talking donkeys, brides swapped on their wedding day, men walking on water, dry bones brought back to life, Jonah in the belly of a big fish for three days, and Lazarus raised from the dead.

Of course, the overall story of the Bible is the story of Jesus. God sent His son Jesus to earth to die on a cross, repairing the relationship between us and God.

During my reading plan, tucked away in the book of Judges, I found the story of a courageous murderess named Jael.

The backstory

God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites and told them to wipe out all the current inhabitants. But they didn’t do what God told them to. Therefore, the Israelites intermarried with the Canaanites and spiraled downward into sin and idol worship. 

Because of their disobedience, God allowed Jabin, a king of Canaan, to conquer and oppress them. But God sent judges to lead and rescue the Israelites from the oppression of their enemies.

Story of Jael

Deborah, a judge and prophetess, heard from God and sent Barak to fight and conquer Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. Deborah said to Barak, “’ I will surely go with you. The road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.” (Judges 4:9, ESV)

Meanwhile, Heber the Kenite, an ally of Jabin, pitched his tent nearby. (Judges 4:11)

Even though he was outnumbered, Barak crushed the troops of Sisera. Not a man was left, except Sisera escaped on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite.

Jael offered her tent as a hiding place for Sisera. She gave him milk and a place to lie down and rest. Then Jael took matters into her own hands. As scripture states, “But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died” (Judges 4:21, ESV).

Because of Jael’s quick thinking, soon the Israelites destroyed Jabin, the Canaanite king. (Judges 4:24)

The song of Deborah honors Jael for conquering Sisera, Jabin’s commander, and bringing peace to the land for forty years. (Judges 5:24-31)

Lessons learned from Jael

God uses people to do His Will

Deborah prophesied a woman would kill Sisera, so Jael was fulfilling God’s plan. If God can use a woman named Jael to further his plan, He can use you too.

What are your excuses? Here are some of mine. “I’m afraid. I’m too old (or young). I don’t have time. I’m not talented enough (or good enough).”

However, remember this verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)

Seize opportunities

Jael thought quickly. She showed Sisera kindness and hospitality to lure him into her tent and make him feel safe. “’ Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.’ So, he entered her tent and she put a covering over him” (Judges 4:18, NIV). He relaxed. Men were not allowed to enter a woman’s tent, so he thought no one would look for him there.

Use your resources

Jael used what she had, a hammer and a tent peg. She knew how to use the hammer and pegs to pitch the tents. She was resourceful and fearless. And strong enough to drive a tent peg right through a man’s skull. She grabbed the opportunity and did what she had to do while Sisera slept.

Final thoughts

A few lines of scripture recount the tale of Jael and her hammer and tent peg. She seized an opportunity, used the resources she had, and fulfilled God’s plan. And provided one of the exciting stories in the Bible.

Read this previous post about Gideon, also a judge and a character in another one of the exciting stories of the Bible.