JAEL Jael was the wife of Heber, who was a descendant of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses. Although they were Kenites, Heber decided to separate himself from them and with his wife they pitched their tent at Zaanaim. We do not know why Heber and Jael moved away from their people, but we can already see God’s providence at work here. In the meantime, Jabin the king of Canaan together with Sisera, his commander were oppressing the Israelites for as long as twenty years. Judges 4 recalls how during this time, God called Deborah to be a judge and a prophet. She always sat under a tree, (later called the Tree of Deborah), between Ramah and Bethel. Deborah asked to speak to Barak, who was a commander of the armies of the Israelites. She wanted to know from him why he did not follow the command God gave him to take the armies and go and defeat Sisera, as God promised that Barak would be victorious. Barak told Deborah that he would only go out to make war if Deborah accompanied him. Without hesitation, she agreed and prophesied to Barak that he would recieve no glory as Sisera would be killed by the hand of a woman. Sisera got word that the Israelites were gathering for battle, and he prepared his army. Barak and his men defeated the army of Canaan, but Sisera fled the battle ground. While Sisera was running away on foot, he came upon the tent of Jael. As there was peace between king Jabin and the Kenites, Sisera thought that he would be safe here. Jael welcomed him into her tent and said he must rest there. When Sisera asked her for some water, she gave him some milk to drink. Jael covered Sisera with a blanket and fell asleep. Jael then softly went to Sisera and with a hammer she drove a tent peg into his head. As Jael and her husband always lived in tents, she would have the knowhow and strength to do this in one smooth action. Sisera immediately died. Jael then went outside to wait for Barak who was pursuing Sisera. She took Barak into the tent and showed Sisera’s dead body to him. On this day the prophecy given by Deborah was fulfilled. Sisera died by the hand of a women. In Judges 5 Deborah and Barak sang a song in which they gave praise to the Lord for giving them the victory. In the song they also gave Jael the honour and glory for killing Sisera. Jael and her husband left their tribe and moved away. Their tent was directly in the path of the fleeing Sisera. We do not know why Jael decided to kill Sisera, as her family was at peace with king Jabin at that stage. She acted with courage, bravery and initiative. We can see through the story of Jael how God uses people from all walks of life to fulfil His purpose and fulfil prophecy. Everyone ultimately will receive judgement either at the Bema Judgement Seat of Christ or at the Great White Throne Judgement. Jael, serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty where He brings justice by the hands of the most unlikely candidate. The story of Jael teaches us that no-one has the capability to derail God's plans . He executes and wields justice, sometimes on the wicked through the hands of those He chooses.