Daily Jewel

by pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Avoid Becoming Lion-Bait”
“(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)” – Proverbs 7:11, 12

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1st Peter 5:8, 9

Lions tend to hunt mostly by night or in the early mornings, and for much of the rest of the time are the embodiment of sluggishness. However, being opportunists they'll hunt whenever the chance arises and that could even be the middle of the hottest day. Of some significance here is the fact that they’re not very fast animals, while by contrast, the animals they hunt are some of the fastest on the planet. A wildebeest can achieve a top speed of somewhere around 50 miles per hour and maintain it effortlessly and even a humble wart hog can manage almost 30 miles per hour. In fact such is the disparity between predator and prey that many of the faster species don't even bother to run away at full speed, which must be galling to say the least. Consequently lions have developed two main hunting methods. The first is a version of grandmother's footsteps, in which the lion stalks from cover to cover with a final burst of speed at the end. (If spotted the lion will sit up and stare nonchalantly into the distance.) The second method is to find a bush close to something your prey needs - usually water - climb in and wait. This has the great advantage that the lion can catch up on sleep whilst technically "out hunting". There are however two things that help the lion considerably. First they’re incredibly good at hiding and phenomenally patient. Secondly, the antelopes, while physically fast, are mentally not quite so sprightly and pay perhaps too little attention to learning from their mistakes. A couple of observations and parallels from both the Scripture reference and the nature lesson: First, notice that the lion and the wayward woman (i.e. evil) prefer the cover of darkness as the time to do their “dirty work.” It is not that they are afraid of the day but most of their successes are at night. Second, and what is even more important is the target of their prey—the weak. The simple—those who are unaware of their situation, and often it is those who have isolated themselves from the group. There is also something to note in this story—lions hunt smart! They know where to find their prey and eventual victims. They do not wait for their victims to come to them so they must go to where they are. And, I might also add, the place where they mostly find their victims—at the watering hole—is a place that represents a basic need. We have seen this verse before but this is a good reminder of what we are all up against, regardless of who we are:

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” – 2nd Corinthians 11:12-15

Paul, in this context, was referring to “false prophets,” those who were preaching a gospel other than Christ for their own benefit—luring the weak away from the faith. In truth, anything that lures us away from focusing on Christ as our primary object of affection is a false prophet, and like the lion they will approach us at the point of our greatest need—which is mostly on an emotional level.
Two things in conclusion: First is awareness! Be on the alert for evil and sin is always on the prowl! It has an insatiable hunger and does not discriminate when it comes to its victims! A lion (with help) can just as easily take down an elephant as they can a gazelle. Second: As has been noted before, the “young man” in Solomon’s analogy had strayed from “the pack” so to speak, making himself easy prey. So, stay close to the pack—ergo, the Body of Christ! There is indeed strength in numbers.
Pastor J. T. Carnell