Of Satan and Hunters

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1Peter 5:8)

Animal videos are exciting to watch for the most part. In fact I had a horde of them in my library until I realized that they have a very destructive narrative; evolution. That is when I lost interest, especially considering my children.

But today I want us to look at the hunters and their relation to the hunted.

Have you realized that animal hunters look for the most vulnerable animal to attack? That is why you always see them on the prowl for newborns.

You see, three lions can’t successfully kill an adult buffalo easily. It might kill the three of them in the process and escape.

It is therefore imperative that the target is easily killable.

Two things are pivotal, a lone and preferably weak animal.

That is why the hunters hover around a herd so that fear will confuse them to scatter. Then they can pick on the easiest target alone as the others are fleeing for their lives.

But sometimes it backfires when the cowards gathers before the hunters complete their assignment. Then they come with a fury that almost kills a whole pride.

Lions are not invincible. It is their strategy that is genius, in animal terms.

Does it surprise you that the Bible picked on the hunting lion to describe the devil? Can it help us understand temptation?

Why did the serpent approach Eve instead of Adam?

Why did he approach Sarah concerning Ishmael instead of Abraham?

And why did he approach Peter instead of Jesus on the crucifixion?

The strategy is the same. The devil looks at the weakest link and that is where he approaches from. Then once he has broken that link he uses the relationships around it to get to the strong.

You see, Adam could easily beat temptation but couldn’t resist Eve. Abraham could remain resilient on the promise but couldn’t resist Sarah. And he had hoped Jesus would be unable to resist Peter too.

Another thing we learn from lions is that they will normally hunt as a team.

The prey may kill a few lions in the hunt but will eventually be brought down since a whole pride is united in bringing it down as they are persistent and do not look back at how many of them are down.

Sometimes they may leave the prey wounded when they tire to come later when the pain of their first hunt overwhelms the victim. Then their attack will be met with less resistance.

The other strategy they use is surprise, what in military terms is called ambush. Even the fastest land animal, the cheetah, will be unable to catch anything if they gave them notice of their attack. Nothing does not get out to the roots of their strength when faced with death. A cheetah must therefore come within a short range before sprinting after the prey.

The only exception to that is pack animals who do not mind a marathon type hunting where they change places in their pursuit so that the prey eventually gets exhausted.

Ambush means that the hunter is ready and prepared when the prey has no idea what is happening.

Incidentally that is how temptation normally comes. A prostitute will not come to you in your house and introduce herself as such. An adulterer will not come to you offering money for sex. They will package themselves in such a way that by the time you realize what is happening you are deep inside their trap.

The team also works on the same lines. A temptation will come flying from all directions.

You have a need. Then you do not have money. Then your friends cannot help. Then this friend steps in. Then he wants you to become just friends. Then spend time together, of course giving more money. Then, then, then …

The other strategy a hunter uses most effectively is fear.

Like I have said, lions are not the strongest animals around. Neither are they the fastest.

But their presence instils fear. One lion can literally stop thousands of animals from grazing if they catch its scent.

And fear paralyses. You can’t plan when you are afraid. You cannot even think straight when you are afraid.

And that is the purpose of the famous lion’s roar.

It intimidates and completely immobilizes any fight in any animal.

Do you see that it is what the devil is called?

Remember Goliath?

Do you know that there were a few Israelites who had skill and accuracy to kill him from a distance? Do you know that they could have refused his offer?

Yet what do we see? God’s army scatters when this giant appears. And that was the purpose. Why fight when you can get a walkover through roaring? And crowd mechanics amplify that roar a million times.

Is that not what the devil does to us?

Many believers are fixated with what the devil does and can do. Ministries are started to counter the devil.

Yet at no time do we see Christ wasting His time on the devil and his dramatics. He simply took authority.

Incidentally that is the difference David brings into the equation. He has been with God in the wilderness and so a giant’s roar is nothing compared with the God he worshiped.

Where do we stand in relation to the tempter?

How close are we to God? What about His word?

Are we afraid of the devil or do we like Christ trample him underfoot as we walk in obedience?