Found in Judges 4 and 5
Here is a beautiful example of how God uses a woman to guide and inspire the battle. The Israelites, having been given direct commands, instructions, and laws to follow, seriously break the rules, and God is angry. They go through a back and forth, defy God, pray to God and plead for help, God sends a “savior” to help with a circumstance, then once saved, they return to idol worship and other forbidden actions. After this back and forth, God begins to send judges who would guide through God’s wisdom and grace. Deborah is one such woman. She is married, she is a prophet, and she sits under a palm tree on a mountain, judging and guiding the people with God’s rules and laws.
Deborah receives a revelation, and the people were made willing. Barak, the general of their army, is uncertain and says to Deborah, “I will lead the battle only if you are with me.” Yes, of course she will be there, but because Barak has doubted, the victory of the battle will be given to a woman (not Deborah).
Barak was worried about the 900 iron chariots and all the military against them. But Deborah knew God was with them.
The supernatural events of the battle I find interesting.
Stars in Action
The stars from heaven set themselves in array. They set themselves to fight with Sisera (the enemy king) out of their path. In a former lesson, we saw the Star of Bethlehem guiding the 3 Kings to the newborn King. Here we see the stars can again be involved in the concerns of humanity and are aligned with God against the enemy of God’s people.
For further study of the role of stars, see the Book of Enoch, 3 Heavenly Luminaries. Here are some helpful details.
Key Details About Stars
Courses and Laws
The Book of Enoch outlines the courses of the stars, detailing their movements and the laws that govern them. Uriel, the angel, serves as the guide who reveals these celestial laws to Enoch.
Specifics of Star Movements
The text describes how the stars have specific paths and seasons, indicating their roles in the cosmic order. Each star is associated with particular names and classifications, emphasizing their significance in the heavenly realm.
Importance of the Stars
The stars are depicted as integral to the divine order, reflecting God’s creation and governance.
Their movements are not random; they follow a precise schedule that aligns with the cosmic laws established by God.
The Book of Enoch thus presents a structured view of the stars, illustrating their importance in both the physical and spiritual realms.
A 2nd Supernatural
The brook from Kesan swept them away. The ancient brook, the brook Kason, my mighty soul will trample him down. The ancient brook carries the soul and will of God to defeat the enemy.
The Book of Enoch contains references to ancient waters, particularly in the context of Enoch’s visions and revelations. These waters are traditionally associated with places of revelation and are significant in the narrative of Enoch’s encounters with divine beings.
A 3rd Supernatural Event – Mighty Angel
When the hoofs of the horse were entangled, His mighty ones earnestly hasted to curse Meroz: “Curse ye it,” said the angel of the Lord, “curse everyone who dwells in it, because they came not to help the Lord, to His help among the mighty.”
There are horse hoofs somehow becoming entangled, and we see angelic intervention. There were many mighty angels on hand in this battle. And angels can use their power to curse or bless. Here we see the enemy of the Lord being cursed.
To complete the supernatural story, there is a blessing for those who love Him.
“O Lord, and they that love Him shall be as the going forth of the sun in His strength.”
The Book of Enoch refers to the sun as the “greatest of the luminaries” in the Astronomical Book (1 Enoch 72-82), where Enoch receives a vision detailing the movements and roles of the sun, moon, and stars as divine luminaries.
The story tells of a great ensuing battle foretold to Deborah, wise judge and prophetess. She entirely believes and is a faithful servant to the Lord. She is without doubt. Her faith is not a belief or hope, but on the level of fully knowing, fully aware and obedient to the will and power of the Lord.
The commander of the army, a strong man, knows prior to the battle that who they will fight has more resources, chariots (900 chariots of iron), men, and capability than his own army. He wants to believe Deborah, but in the back of his mind, he was likely wondering if this would be the end, a slaughter, because the army they were fighting was much greater than them. He gathers his courage and says to Deborah, “If you come with me, I will do what you ask.” She agrees and says because you have this condition, the victory will be given to a woman. A woman will defeat and be credited for defeating Sisera.
The battle rages on, there is supernatural support, Sisera, the king of the enemy, flees and hides in a woman’s tent. The wife of a warrior and a workman who has in his tent hammer and nails. She gains his trust, covers him with a blanket to hide him, and pounds a nail with a hammer into his temple, and he dies. She is honored in the songs of victory.
Jael’s Song of Victory
Blessed among women be Jael, wife of Chaber the Kenite. Let her be blessed above women in tents. He asked for water; she gave him milk. In a dish she brought butter of princes. She stretched forth her left hand to the nail and her right hand to the workman’s hammer, and she smote Sisera with it. She nailed through his head and smote him. She nailed through his temple. He bowed and fell. Where he bowed, there he fell dead. He rolled down between her feet. He fell and lay between her feet. He bowed and fell. Where he bowed, there he fell dead.
In this story, we can see the men have the brawn, they fight with swords; the women have the brains, they fight with revelation and cunning, and we see God’s faithfulness with the supernatural support sent to help in the great victory.
