“And he said to her, ‘Give me a drink please — a little water because I am thirsty.’ She opened up a skin of milk to drink and covered him. And he said to her, ‘Stand at the entrance to the tent. If it should be that a man comes and asks you, saying, ‘Is there a man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’’”

(Judges 4:19-20)

As is often the case with God’s justice, it is rather ironic in nature. Up until this point, because of Sisera’s great military machine, the Israelite men had been cowering and quivering…often behind their women as did Baraq with Deborah. Now the Israelite men have risen up to fight the battle and Sisera is discovered to be cowering under the coverings in the tent of Jael. Before his death, he gets (perhaps even for the first time) to discover the same fear that the Israelite men have been living under for the past twenty years.

What is also interesting is the false sense of security that he is given. Instead of water she gives him milk. Instead of screaming a warning, she invites him in. Instead of immediately exposing him, Jael covers Sisera up. She has plans for his demise, but she does not give away her motive. How interesting it is that, as a culture, the Christian church has often fallen for the same ruse. The society around us often gives us all of the false signs of comfort while ushering the evangelical church in America underneath the coverings of the government’s “protection.” Then, when the timing is right, out comes the tent peg. Were the church to take her stand and never to compromise, how different things would be.