Have you ever seen a lion in a zoo?
If you’ve ever heard one roar, you probably know that he has a very loud voice! It is no wonder the lion is called the king of beasts. He is a very powerful animal, and we enjoy seeing him, but only when he is safely behind bars!
This is a story of a missionary lady named Rachel who went to Africa many years ago. Lions roam freely in certain parts of Africa. Rachel saw them fairly often, but one day she suddenly met up with two lions almost face to face. This dangerous encounter could have turned out very differently if the Lord had not helped her.
Along with about 130 porters, Rachel and her husband and children had been walking for many days. The porters helped them by carrying the many things they needed for the new mission station they were going to set up in Africa. They had started out this day early in the morning. Early in the afternoon, Rachel’s husband had gone ahead with most of the porters to show them where to set up the tents for the night. Now she was walking alone with her oldest child, enjoying the beautiful African birds and flowers.
Suddenly Rachel froze in her tracks with terror! To the right of the path in front of her, a huge lion and lioness had emerged from the bush and were heading for her! Rachel’s heart was pounding as she realized her husband was out of sight and she and her daughter had no one to protect them. Her thoughts quickly darted to her other children who were not far behind, being carried by a few porters. They would soon arrive at the spot, and perhaps all of them would be mauled or killed by these two huge beasts!
What would you have done if you were Rachel? She did the best thing anyone could do when they are in trouble . . . she lifted her heart up to God in prayer. This was not the first time she had turned to God her Father, trusting His promise, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)).
Have you ever been in danger? Even if you have never faced an African lion, you have an even stronger enemy who is always “[walking] about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)). This Bible verse is warning us about our great enemy, Satan. He hates everyone and is always trying to find ways to harm us, and especially those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The Bible tells us Satan is a thief and a robber, but he sometimes tries to make himself look like a good friend, just until he has us trapped in sin. Then we find out how true it is that he is our enemy and not the friend he seemed to be. “The thief [comes] not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)). Satan will steal all your happiness if you listen to him and in the end can destroy your whole life. BUT, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)). How good that we have God our Father to turn to for help when our enemy attacks. He is always listening to our prayers. When we face any kind of danger, we can call on Him and He will hear and answer us, just as you will see that He did for Rachel.
Everyone in the caravan carried whistles so they could warn one another of approaching danger. After praying, Rachel quickly reached for the whistle hanging around her neck and blew it as loud as she could. To her great relief the two lions stopped, then turned down into a ravine close by and were soon out of sight. Her husband heard the whistle and rushed back as fast as he could. He got there in time to see the two lions walking in the bushes on the other side of the ravine.
Rachel knew that these lions were not friendly, but very dangerous enemies, just as Satan is a very dangerous enemy. But she also knew the One who is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother, the Lord Jesus Christ. She could turn to Him for help when there was no one on earth who could help her, not even her loving husband. Do you know this wonderful Friend? He loves you and longs to be your Saviour and help you through life’s problems. He proved His love by dying on the cross for you. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)). Won’t you turn to Him today if you haven’t done so already and learn what a mighty Saviour and wonderful Friend He is?
ML-07/04/1999