If you’re like me, you probably look around at the world and all the bad, evil things going on and wonder how someone like you could ever make a difference. I know I often wish there was something I could do to help, and I’m sure you do too.

As Christians, God put that desire in us, and He wants to use each and everyone of us to affect the world around us, for His cause.

Today we’re going to look at one person who did something that changed the whole course of a nation for 40 years. That person is a woman named Jael, and we find her in Judges 4:17-24.

In the days that this story takes place, Israel was being oppressed by an evil king and his empire.

In verse 17 we learn that Jael’s family was at peace with the oppressive king and his empire. Because of this alliance between her family and the kingdom, the fleeing commander Sisera expected to find a friend to hide from the Israelite army in Jael’s house. His army was being overtaken by Deborah and Barak (not Obama). Instead of the peace and safety Sisera expected, he was greeted by his own downfall at the hands of Jael.

In verse 21, we see a courageous initiative taken by Jael.

She took it into her own hands to rid Israel of the oppressive empire it was under. Sisera was exhausted by the battle he had just fled from, so he fell asleep in Jael’s house. Jael seized this opportunity by taking a tent peg and a hammer and hammering the tent peg through Sisera’s head, killing him as he slept!

This ultimately won the battle for the Israelites (Verse 23) and brought 40 years of peace to Israel. (Chapter 5 Verse 31)

This action by Jael took huge amounts of courage for two reasons.

  1. Jael was a woman, and women were not considered to be warriors at that time. Jael went against the status quo and trends of the day to defeat the enemy.
  2. Jael’s family was in an alliance with the kingdom she ultimately helped defeat. By killing Sisera, Jael was breaking this alliance and most likely going against what her husband and other leaders in her family would have wanted her to do.

Application

Jael’s courage and leadership can teach us a lot about how to stand up for what we believe and make a difference for God in our world today.

Here are 3 things to remember as you look to be a leader for God’s kingdom.

  • Don’t ever let your young age hold you back.  

    1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in faith, in purity.”

  • God is telling you that even though you are young, you can be a leader by speaking with love, treating others kindly, trusting God, and staying pure in your thoughts and actions. That is how you can make a difference for God.

  • Don’t be afraid to stand out.

    Ephesians 5:11 says to “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

  • In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to be salt and light, pushing back against the darkness in our world and shining a light with how we live. If we live as Christ calls us to, we can change the world for God in a big way.

  • What you do doesn’t have to be big.

    Many Christians feel guilty that they have never done anything big for God.

  • The truth is, though, that we don’t have to do anything huge to advance the kingdom of God. All we have to do is live how God called us and be an example of Christ to those around us, wherever God has put us. We have to fulfill the Great Commission by telling everyone we know about God, but you don’t have to be a missionary or pastor to do that. If you even lead one person to God, that is worth an infinite amount in the eyes of God, and who knows how many more people will be saved because of that one person being saved!

 

In conclusion, as young men chasing after God, let’s follow Jael’s example and be leaders and examples of Christ to those around us.

Don’t be afraid to stand up and stand out for God, and out of love for Him, show others the love of Christ. That’s how to live right as a Christian young man.

Johnathan

Let’s talk in the comments below:

  1. What are some ways you have made a difference for God?
  2. How do you think God is calling you to make a difference for Him today?