areliablefaith

Hi Friends, I know it’s been a while since I have posted here.  I’ve concentrated on daily scripture posts in Facebook for the past few months.  Recently I’ve decided to answer a tug on my heart to go help some friends reopening an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.  I make that trip later this spring. Over the coming weeks I will post here about the work in Kenya and my trip.  Today, I thought I would share a journal entry I made recently.  It just so happens to be about lions and zebras, which if we are fortunate, we may get to see on the visit to Kenya.

I recently read an article about the behavior of Lions and Zebras that sparked several thoughts of a more spiritual nature.

It seems Lions have a strategy that makes them particularly effective hunters. They are known as the “King of the Jungle”, but when that moniker is used it usually conjures up a picture of a fierce looking Male lion with a huge mane and a loud roar. But the truth is the female lions do the bulk of the work and are more often responsible for bringing home the bacon… or in this case the zebra. When their prey, zebras being a favorite, come into their hunting grounds, the female lions spread out and encircle the zebras at a distance slipping into hiding to wait. When the females have had time to get into position the male lion rouses himself from his usual position of lounging and trots out into the midst of the zebras. The zebras begin to notice the lion and are wary. They know to keep their distance from the danger so they become nervous. Once he is in the midst of the zebras the male lion lets out the loud roar he is famous for and chaos ensues. Zebras sprint in all directions in a mad dash to escape the roaring lion. And some of those zebras run right into the paws and jaws of the waiting female lions.

Now most of us looking at this example can probably identify with the zebras rather than the lions. We want to mind our own business, live well, and just live a safe life. Hopefully none of us are the predator stalking our food. So, let’s use our God-given ability to think and plan a better response than the zebras because there ARE predators out there – some looking like people and others not so visible. Peter says this about our most significant enemy. ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ‘ 1 Peter 5:8

When I read this article I immediately thought of this verse. There are three possible responses when we are threatened – flight, fight, or freeze.

The zebras are not equipped to fight the lions, or at least they are at a great disadvantage if they do, so flight is their typical response. As we see from this article, flight is exactly what the lions are counting on. We often respond with random flight ourselves when we feel threatened. Flight is not always wrong, but informed flight is so much better.

Alternately we can freeze. In the case of dealing with the lions, freezing is as bad or worse than haphazard flight. Switching to some real-life situations, many of the victims in terrorist activities are people who freeze and don’t flee or fight. The term “sitting ducks” is a sad but true expression for someone who freezes in the moment of attack.

So, what about the final response – to fight. As in the case of informed flight, if we are to fight it is imperative that we are equipped, prepared, and trained to fight effectively. Like the zebras, fighting isn’t something we go looking for. But unlike the zebras, we are not defenseless. God has given His people access to the necessary weapons to protect themselves from the devil’s attacks. And through attention to the Holy Spirit’s leading we can be trained to fight the good fight when and where it may occur.

The verse above says “the devil prowls like a roaring lion”. Satan is a big imposter. He is the Father of Lies. Illusion, deception, and lies are his trademark. When he speaks he may use a little truth to gain our attention, but what he says is always ultimately a lie. Looking at this verse, it does not say the devil is a lion, but that he seeks to appear like a lion. He roars loudly in an attempt to scare us, to terrify us into rash action, to cause us to run into the waiting snare of sin. But he is not a lion.

There is one though who is known as the Lion of Judah. He is not only the King of the jungle, but He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our shield, protector, and savior – Jesus. When the lion roars we are to look to the true Lion to know what a real lion looks like. In this case, He looks like love divine. So when the enemy attacks and tries to convince us he is a lion who can and will overpower us, our first response should be to remember and call upon the true lion, Jesus. Do not fear, the Lion of Judah is by your side and lives within all who call upon His name. Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world.

Background on the Davis’ Mission in Kenya in the next post.  Blessings to you this fine day.