Imagine you are Joash. You’re an infant and your grandma tries to murder you![1] But thankfully your Auntie Jehosheba shrewdly steals you away and hides you from your bloodthirsty grandma.[2]

You live in hiding for 6 years!

When you’re 7 years old, a guy named Jehoiada shrewdly orchestrates a coup détat against your grandma by working with the captains of the Carites and of the guards to bring you out of hiding, and they craftily help establish you as king![3]

One of the chief takeaways from this anecdote is …BE SHREWD!

We must commend Auntie Jehosheba and Jehoiada for their shrewdness.[4]

*We are meant to learn and apply shrewdness principles and practices from the complex, and messy, stories of history.[5]

So let’s think about the story of Cruella.[6]

Estella’s mom attempts to have her murdered. She is stolen away and hidden by Catherine Miller.[7] Sometime later John the Valet works with Jasper, Horace, Artie, and Estella to shrewdly orchestrate a coup détat against Baroness Von Hellman!

“I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” – Jesus of Nazareth

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[1] 2 Kings 11:1

[2] 2 Kings 11:2

[3] 2 Kings 11:4-8

[4] Luke 16:8

[5] Luke 16:9

[6] Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Marc Platt Productions and Gunn Films; released on May 18, 2021; Running Time 134 minutes.

[7] Catherine Miller is the former maid of Baroness Von Hellman (Estella’s mom).