Talks on Bible Animals

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IN the Bible, animals as well as men are used to teach us some gospel lessons.
THE LION. King of beasts, and monarch of the forest, unfettered and untamed, he roves and roars, ever “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 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)). The Bible tells us that such is “our adversary the devil.” He spares none who come within his grasp. He even attacked the Son of God when in the wilderness, but on Him he left no mark. He tempts, trips, and seeks to get the young into his “snare,” that he may bring them under his “condemnation” (1 Tim. 3:66Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6)). The only way to escape his wiles, and to be delivered from his “power” (Col. 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)) is to be “in Christ.” Safe and secure are all who are “born of God” from his touch (1 John 5:1818We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 John 5:18)), but the whole world of the unconverted, he “deceives” (Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)).
THE BEAR. Found in the valleys of Judah and the ravines of Galilee, the Syrian bear is a destroyer of the sheep and the lambs of the flock. You remember that while David kept his father’s sheep near Bethlehem, a bear, as well as a lion, seized a lamb of his flock (1 Sam. 17:3434And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: (1 Samuel 17:34)) which he delivered from its cruel grasp. The bear hugs its prey to death. In this it is like the world. When the cruel world, and the lusts thereof, get a grip on the young, stepping out into life, very soon the desire for all that is of God, is crushed out. But as David delivered his lamb out of the mouth of the bear, and restored it to the green pastures, so Christ, the Good Shepherd, rescues and brings back to Himself all who trust in Him.
THE LEOPARD. Spotted all over, it cannot change its color (Jer. 13:2323Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)) or its nature. In this it is like a sinner, born in sin, with an evil nature, which can neither be renewed nor reformed. This is why it is said, “Ye must be born again.” John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7).
THE ASS. The ass, unclean and unbridled, is like the sinner by nature and practice (Job. 11:12; 24:5). Its firstling had either to be redeemed by a lamb, or have its neck broken. So it must be with us redemption or condemnation.
J.R.
ML-01/14/1962