“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
Our home is situated at the base of the hills where wildlife freely roams. In the heat of a Southern California summer it is not uncommon for insects and snakes to make their way around our neighborhood in search of a new hole in the ground to stay cool. Recently, unknown to us, a baby rattlesnake squeezed its way into my garage to seek shade. When I opened the garage it came slithering out so quickly and scared me half to death as it past me by just inches away. I stood stunned and watched him slither away into the dirt under a bush. With a hoe in one hand and giant stick in the other, I was determined to make sure this dangerous snake wouldn’t be around to hurt anyone. My heart was pounding and my adrenaline was rushing but I knew I had to get over my fear and kill the snake. Keeping my distance, I got on my hands and knees and peered under the bush only to see…nothing. I was horrified at the idea that somehow I might have let him out of my sight. I looked around the area but didn’t see anything. I stooped down again and stared under the bush with more focus and intensity. There I found him curled up in a small coil, completely still, and entirely camouflaged in the dirt. His head was resting on his body but his eyes were alert and staring right back at me. Had I just been going about my day I never would’ve been aware of his presence and I never would’ve realized he was watching me so intently. He was camouflaged so well that he was nearly invisible to any passer-by.
This experience made me think about when Jesus told his followers “to be wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). Here, Jesus is encouraging us to learn from the behavior of a snake and to think like a snake does. A snake is very careful, thoughtful, calculated, and discerning about how to behave in the environment he is in. He does not announce his presence in the dirt; instead he quietly lays low and blends into his surroundings as a means of protection. Not only that, but he is very intentional to watch and observe what is going on around him. This is the wisdom Jesus wants us to learn from.
When we are walking in our God-given purpose and identity, it’s inevitable that difficult people, hard situations, or potential conflict will block our path. When this happens God tells us it is wise to move slowly, humbly, and carefully in order to discern how He is directing us. In our “move it or lose it” world it is easy to rush into something, speak to soon, or move too quickly, and our haste can end up hurting us in the end. The world tells us that waiting, watching, and being still before God is a waste of time, but as mighty women of God, we must use our strength to act with wisdom so we can be the leaders He’s made us to be.
If we’re uncertain about how to handle a situation in our life, we must take the time to hear from God and to discern what our next move should be. When we are discerning, patient, and sensitive enough to trust the Holy Spirit’s leading in our life, He will make our path clear and the timing perfect. As we learn to be wise as serpents He will give us eyes to see what others miss, camouflage us from the attacks of the enemy, and tell us when the perfect time to strike is. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in with family, church, ministry, business, relationships, or work God will give us the wisdom we need to abundantly bear fruit in every area of our lives.
As wise women, we speak a different message to the world when we choose to use “the wisdom from above” that encourages us to be “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). These traits mark us as we walk down the path of wisdom and a purpose-filled life in Christ.