Have you ever faced a lion?
What would you do if you saw one in the African wild? Take the lion quiz to see if you could escape from a lion!
- Do lions climb trees?
- Do lions swim?
- How fast do lions run?
Let’s see if you knew enough about lions to devise an escape plan.
Do lions climb trees?1
If you plan to escape by climbing a tree, make sure it is a very tall one. Some lions do climb trees but their bulk, (250-400 lbs.), makes it difficult. I imagine they would not climb to the top of a tall one so you might be safe there. Of course, you do have to consider coming down at some point. Then the question is, would they be gone?
Do lions swim?2
Like all cats, lions do not like the water. Although swimming is not their normal behavior, for food, they may take the plunge. You may be safe in the water unless you are in Tsaro, Kenya. The Tsaro lions are called “swamp lions” as they have adapted to herding prey into the water to attack them.
How fast do lions run?3
Lions can reach speeds of 50 mph. I don’t know about you, but that is much faster than I can run. They do lack endurance so, if you can manage to evade them, you might outlast them. But while you are evading them, keep in mind that they can leap up to 30 feet. Chances of escape aren’t too good, are they?
Even though we don’t live in the wild, there are lions among us.
The scripture warns us that the devil, the evil one, is like a lion;
1 Peter 5:8, Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour. (TLV)
We face many lions in our lives. Lions whose evil acts try to devour our hope, faith, livelihood and even our life. Things like the roaring boss, devious person, irate customer and violent or abusive people just to name a few.
But God has not left us to deal with them alone.
Are you familiar with the story of Daniel in the lion’s den; Daniel chapter 6?
Now Daniel faced two types of lions; the animal and one committing evil acts. Daniel’s fellow governors and satraps were jealous of Daniel. They devised an evil plot to get rid of Daniel by taking his life. I would say their actions qualify them as lions, wouldn’t you? These men encouraged the king to sign a new decree prohibiting people from worshiping anyone but the king. Did Daniel disobey the decree? Of course, he did! He worshiped God! Confronted by the men, the king had no choice but to seal Daniel in the lion’s den.
There was Daniel, surrounded by darkness facing a pride of lions.
Their eyes glowing in the darkness.
Roars reverberating around the den like loud claps of thunder.
Was Daniel quaking in fear? Even with faith, I imagine Daniel would have been shaking at least a little. Who wouldn’t?
What was Daniel thinking when they bared their teeth, “My what big teeth you have?”
I am sure that Daniel hoped the lions weren’t thinking, “The better to eat you with!”
When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, he had no weapons, there were no tall trees to climb, no rivers to jump into and no place to run. How was he to escape? It seems that Daniel had not prepared an escape plan. Ahh! But that’s where we would be wrong.
You see, Daniel had been preparing to escape from lions all of his life. Reading the book of Daniel in the Bible, we see that Daniel exhibited a strong faith in God. Daniel’s relationship with the Lord was so evident that even the King recognized it.
Daniel relied on the only escape plan he had, his faith in God.
God did the impossible.
He sent angels to shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was not harmed!
God did not prevent Daniel from having to face the lions, but He did protect him. Once Daniel was removed from the lion’s den unharmed, there were still lions to contend with, his accusers. God continued to be with Daniel and protect him. These deceptive, jealous men who tried to take Daniel’s life were cast into the lion’s den. Since the lions had missed a meal, they readily devoured them.
The result of Daniel’s faith was not only his protection but God’s glory.
After seeing God’s intervention for Daniel, King Darius made this decree:
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions,
Daniel 6:26-27
How do we prepare to meet a lion?
We prepare by following Daniel’s example and growing our faith in our loving Lord. Then if we run into a lion, don’t fear but like Daniel, in faith depend upon the Lord.
Our loving Lord will be with us.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go, Joshua 1:9
Our loving Lord can do the impossible.
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God;
for with God all things are possible,” Mark 10:27
When you run into a lion, remember what God did for Daniel when he was thrown in the lion’s den. Just like our loving God protected Daniel, He will protect us. Let’s grow our faith now so when lions intrude on our lives, we too can witness the impossible.
REFLECTION
Do you have any lions in your life? Could you grow your faith to face them by spending more time either studying the Bible, praying and listening to God, worshiping or learning scripture?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Mark 10:27 and say it out loud, grow my faith to face any lion and believe You for the impossible. In Jesus name, Amen.
BY FAITH WE CAN FACE THE LIONS
AND SEE GOD DO THE IMPOSSIBLE
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May your day be filled with love and laughter!
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1 discoverafrica.com
2 naturalgeograpic.org/media/buffalo-v-lions/
3 naturefaq.com/how-fast-do-lions-run
Photo, lion sitting, Bisakha Datta, unsplash
Photo, lions in dark, David Clode, unsplash
Photo, lion roaring, Jean Wimmerlin, unsplash
Photo, lions on backs, Gary Whyte, unsplash
