Isaiah 31:1-4 (NIV)
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
Lions have significant roles all throughout the Bible. The Bible often speaks of the influence and power of a lion; even referring our Lord as the Lion of Judah. “Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." Revelation 5:5
But what is it about lions that conjure all this prophetic devotion? Lions are not the biggest. They are not the fastest, strongest, or smartest animals in the jungle. So why are they considered so majestic? In response to this seemingly biased depiction, lion haters have tried to characterize lions as buffoons. They’ve been painted as a slow, lazy and irrelevant species. Sometimes pictured in dresses and dainty clothing to further humiliate them. But nothing has seemed to work. The lion is still glorious to behold. And I found out why at a very young age.
I was at the Bronx Zoo near the habitat for large cats. A lone male lion was there with an even larger tiger at his side. The tiger was taunting and testing the lion. He tried his best to ignore the tiger, but at some point could no longer take it. And the lion roared! Most of you will say, ‘so what’. But let me tell you what happened. This roar wasn’t the little roar you might hear on television or from a movie. This was something earth shaking. It made the tiger bow in surrender. It made all the birds and nearby wildlife hush their chatter. But the most amazing thing was it had me, my family and all the humans in close proximity sit down, be quiet and behave. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
From that moment I began to understand the sovereignty of God. He places in the world the forces He desires without regard of physical traits or genetic makeup. Some might say the lion is feared for his mane, or teeth, claws and ferocity. But in fact you can take all that away, and the lion will still be a lion, because you can’t take away his roar.
As we take a look at today’s scripture we find the writer using the image of the lion to depict the steadfastness of his pursuit in the task given him in feeding his family. He is unmoved by outside interference. He control his environment for himself and the betterment of his family. You can find that same sentiment in the writing of Amos (3:8) The lion has roared, who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy? Amos takes the lion analogy one step higher and juxtaposes the sovereignty, majesty and authority of God to that of the image of the lion. And you definitely will hear His roar.
I submit this morning that God is calling us (His Church) back to our rightful place as lions. I’m afraid what I’m observing from our ranks doesn’t resemble or appear to look anything like the bold, tenacious, unafraid, and majestic image of a lion. Notwithstanding, we understand spiritually we are to be sheep under the watchful eye of our Heavenly Shepherd. But underneath that calm and demeanor exterior should live a roaring lion ready to devour and destroy every work of the enemy.
Dear Children of the Most High, our prowess does not come from our intelligence, or morality, self righteousness or supposed spiritual superiority. Our anointing doesn’t flow because we’ve been so good. Through Jesus Christ the Lord has changed our nature. Through Him (and Him only) we have gained a voice that controls the atmosphere, upsets the plans of the Enemy, and sets us apart from every unbeliever. When there no other barometer to measure my calling, sanctification and empowerment. I admonished you to, HEAR ME ROAR!
God Bless
