There was a saying when I was growing up in eastern Colorado that went like this,

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snakes and snails
And puppy-dogs’ tails
That’s what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And everything nice
That’s what little girls are made of.

Do you get the drift of how boys were thought of as compared with girls. We were taught to treat women differently, with respect and honor which I believe today. In God’s eyes, women are equal to men in terms of their value. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28. Different interests. Different Needs. Different gifts. Different skills. Different wants. Same value. I was taught that by my dad early in life and believe it today.

But I came across a passage that I have read over and over throughout the years and I would have to give this woman a different sugar and spice definition In fact I wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley. It’s a story of the nation of Israel going to war with Jabin, king of Canaan and Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army. Barak was the Israelite commander and the war ensued. We pick it up at that point.

“Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up. “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’ ” But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent-peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭4:16-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jael was the wife of Weber who had an alliance with King Jabin and Sisera, the commander of the army. She knew both of them and realized at some point that her friends were defeated by the Israelite army. Sisera comes to be hidden by her and her family after the defeat. He was afraid and she comforted him with her words and covered him up with a blanket. He asked for some water and she gave him milk. When he was fast asleep, she took a tent-peg and a hammer and drove the stake right through his temple. She murdered the commander of the Canaanite army. Tough woman. Gutzy woman.

On this journey, this story reminds me of what Jesus said about being innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent. He was saying to be careful who you associate with and its good advice for all of us as we journey with Him.