When I was a child, my dad would scare my brother and me by hiding in a thicket and growling like a lion. Living in the bush country of Africa, the possibility of encountering a carnivorous feline was real to us. Regardless, we would laugh delightedly whenever we heard the growl—thrilled by Dad’s act.
One day, a young friend came for a visit. As we played near a bush, we heard the familiar growl. Startled, our friend screamed and ran. And a funny thing happened— we took flight as well, just as scared! My dad felt terrible. But we learned not to be influenced by the panicked reactions of others. We knew the sound of my father’s voice and the harmlessness—indeed, the joy—of the situation. Any “danger” was merely a phantom lion.
Caleb and Joshua stand out in history as people unfazed by the panic of others. Prior to entering the Promised Land, Moses commissioned 12 scouts for a reconnaissance mission. They all saw a beautiful, fertile territory, but 10 of them focused on the negative (Numbers 13:28-29), and so they discouraged the Israelites from invading the land. In the process, they started a treasonous panic (Numbers 14:1-4).
But Caleb and Joshua accurately assessed the situation and courageously stood by their convictions (Numbers 14:6-9). They knew the history of their Father and trusted Him to bring them success.
Israel’s national failure to trust God angered Him. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?’” (Numbers 14:11).
Today, as believers in Jesus, we need to learn to recognize the phantom lions in our lives. Facing them should not be cause for panic. Instead, let’s choose quiet confidence in the One whose voice and deeds we know and trust.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 13:1-25
More:
What did God want to do with the Israelites in Numbers 14:12? What was Moses’ response (vv.13-19), and what did God ultimately do? (vv.20-38).
Next:
What causes you to panic? How have you been influenced by the negativity and doom- saying of those close to you? By faith in God, how should you respond?
omosighu on March 10, 2012 at 12:39 pm
what a rude comment ‘Living in the bush country of Africa’….Are you an adult? since when was Africa a country, for goodness sakes.
followingHim on March 10, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Oh, for pity’s sake! “Bush country” does not refer to a nation, but describes a rural, usually remote, area.
Let’s focus on the writer’s primary point–not getting overwhelmed by baseless dangers and fears–rather than getting distracted by confusion with the writer’s diction.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (I John 4.18)
alli on March 10, 2012 at 6:08 pm
my family is orginally from africa, we must remember to focus on the main thing. the author was complimenting africa hence lions as far as i know come from there. So it is in the translation, bush country is a term for a region, he was not speaking about the continent. but even still we must remember the purpose of the article, and not everyone is trying to offend africa. there were other writings i maybe had question but who am I to question the writer unless i am led, that is between the writer and God alone. I do not think there was any offense made, other ppl may offend me and i need to get over it. we are all in the body of Christ. B blessed we can read this and not focus on things which separate us and not bring us together. I am not offended because it was not meant as an offense. the writer did not refer to Africa as a continuent, you must read slowly. B blessed.
alli on March 10, 2012 at 6:10 pm
‘did not refer to Africa as a country.’
caring1 on March 10, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Wow, one meditation, two messages! And yet the same one. I love it!
Focus on the love of God and fear not. Focus on the message, not the messenger, and learn of God’s love.
As a one who has had fears that I will not have the right words to convey the message, I am encouraged that the message will get through as I let go of fear and focus on the love of God.
tim gustafson on March 13, 2012 at 8:21 am
Apologies, I’ve been inaccessible again, and unable to reply in a timely manner. This time I was in the bush country of the High Sierras of California.
Yes, “bush country” would be an easily recognizable phrase in Ghana, where I grew up. The bush is vastly different from the cities.
Sadly, there are no longer any lions in Ghana.