Where Is Your Loyalty?

Judges 4-5; Psalm 94; Proverbs 14:3-4

 

In times of trouble you can really find out who your friends are… and aren’t. I don’t mean the kind of friends who are easy to talk to. I mean the kind of friends who will be there for you, no matter what—who will offer a hand, a couple bucks, a bed for the night—the kind of friends who will stand up for you.

 

In Judges 4:11 we are introduced to a family that seems to have divided loyalties: Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh. So far what we know is that this family is probably loyal to the Israelites. Why? Because they are the descendants of Moses’ brother-in-law.

 

But the Israelites were currently being oppressed by Jabin king of Hazor. And as Deborah and Barak led Israelites in fighting against this oppressive king’s commander Sisera and his armies, we read this in Judges 4:17: Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite. So was this family loyal to Israel? Or to their oppressors? Would they stand up for either side?

 

Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, ended up being faithful to Israel. She allowed Sisera to enter her tent, and she acted as though she would protect him. But as he rested and slept in the tent, she killed him. It was not long before Israel had completely defeated Jabin, the Canaanite king who was oppressing them (Judges 4:23-24).

 

Father, every day my loyalties are tested—everyone’s loyalties are tested. Will we stand for You and Your kingdom, or will we stay on friendly terms with Your enemies? I choose You. My family will follow You. Strengthen all of us who say that Jesus is our King. Strengthen our hearts to be faithful to You. May our loyalties be undivided. And if there is any hint of division in the way we live, may we have the strength and wisdom to be loyal to You in the end. Thank You that Jael was loyal. May my family and I be no less faithful. And may all our friends and relatives give You their loyalty, too.