Sisera was an evil man, but he was not a stupid man. Proof that he was evil is found in his oppressing the Israelites with cruelty. Cruelty is a characteristic that distinguishes good rulers from evil rulers. A ruler can be firm and oppressive in the tax burden they place upon their subjects without being cruel. Sisera was not content to enforce his King’s rule, but he enjoyed causing pain and suffering.

The evidence that he was not stupid is found in his position as commander of the King’s army. Stupid people do not become commander-in-chief. It was his cruelty that caused the Israelites to finally turn back to God and ask for help. There is a limit to how much a person is willing to suffer in order to live self-centered and unrighteous lives. Sisera helped the Israelites to discover their limit.

Sisera was smart enough to know that the rainy season was over, the plains were dry and the Israelites would be unable to withstand the onslaught of his 900 chariots followed by his heavily armored and equipped soldiers. In his mind, defeat is not a possibility. He was not smart enough to know the God of Israel could do the impossible.

When the thunderstorms and flash floods came, his chariots mired in the mud, and his soldiers caught between an overflowing river and attacking army, fled in terror. He was still smart enough to recognize the impossible was happening and he got down from his chariot and ran for his life. He was smart enough to run in the opposite direction of his fleeing Army. He was smart enough to run towards what he thought was safety; he ran towards the camp of an ally.

Cruelty turns allies into enemies. Fear may cause them to hide it, but when the opportunity arrives they strike back against the cruelty. Sisera died with a tent stake driven through his head by a woman he was not smart enough to be afraid of. Evil makes even the smartest people stupid.