Sisera's Mother-Her Son Was Missing In Action Series

Introduction: Nearly everyone who has ever served in the military is aware of the risk in any armed conflict. Some warriors are killed in action, others are taken prisoner, but the worst fate of all is to be listed as missing. Sisera’s mother was one of the many mothers whose son never came home from the war.

1 The situation

Text, Judges 4:1-3, KJV: 1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

This even happened during the days of the Judges. After Joshua’s death, Israel suffered under any number of enemies. At this time, Sisera was the commander in chief of King Jabin’s army and he had severely oppressed Israel for 20 years (Judges 4:1-3). Scripture does not record any of what happened to Israel, specifically, during those days, but the LORD allowed this story of Sisera’s last battle to remain.

Something to remember is that as long as Israel obeyed the LORD, He would give them blessing on top of blessing and victory after victory. True, Israel had claimed much of the Promised Land, but by now they had failed, and were worshiping the idols and “gods” of the Canaanites. Deuteronomy 28 spelled out in detail what would happen and, incredibly, Israel seemed to get the message but ignore it. Until now, that is, when they had suffered for 20 long years.

Although the text doesn’t say, we can probably guess some of what had happened: when Jabin and Sisera conquered Israel, they probably killed some, perhaps enslaved others, and I wouldn’t be surprised if these rulers took all their weapons away. Think about it: do you, or would you, really want a defeated enemy to be able to rise up against you?

As best I can determine using online Bible atlases, maps, and so forth, Hazor and Harosheth of the Gentiles were in the northern part of Israel. We’ll find some other clues as we dig deeper into this story but remember, this was Galilee, where the land was somewhat different than the lay of the land in Judea and the southern part of Israel. God would use this to His advantage, soon!

2 The victory

Judges 4:4-16, KJV: 4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.