Shrewd and Courageous

Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. (Judges 4:21)

So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 20:21b-22)

These two women demonstrated the shrewdness we must note and emulate in our dealings with Satan and sin. They were not fearful, but bold and decisive. They were wise and calculating in the most forthright and effective manner. They were not willing to abide the danger Sisera and Sheba represented to them and their people, so they took it upon themselves to do what must be done -- and the Lord was with them!

God has no use for heroes or heroines, but He can do incredible things with those who are faithful, wise, and shrewd. Our duty is to be prepared when the fateful moment arrives, and no one knows when that is. Any day can be the day when the Lord trusts us with an otherwise impossible difficulty; but we will succeed mightily in that moment, because God is with us, and we are with Him. That is why Paul encourages us to be ready in season and out, for we do not know when the Lord will present us with the opportunity to glorify His name. May we not seek to be heroes, but to be faithful. That way, God gets the glory, and that is the way it should be. All glory to God!

Let's Pray - Father, give us the wisdom, shrewdness, and courage it takes to be victorious in our battles. May we believe Your word and act accordingly in every situation. In Jesus, Amen.