Lions have always been a favorite of the circus, the zoo, even entertainment acts in Las Vegas. Lions have been featured in movies such as: Tarzan, The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and many others. Lions have been used as a mascot for introducing MGM movies with their ferocious roaring. Lions are referred to as the original king of the jungle. They are fiercely competitive, nurturing, and majestic in stature, exceptional hunters, and territorial, are trained as pets, but, make no mistake about it; they are a wild animal by nature with killer instinct.
Lions have always been a favorite of kings. The Egyptians kept lions and carved images of them in stone. The Assyrian kings liked to hunt lions. The Persian king kept some lions in captivity. The Romans kept lions to fight each other, bears, even gladiators. Some emperors even threw Christians to the lions! Three times in the Bible people were attacked and killed by lions. In each case it was a form of punishment! Need a chilling read? Read 1 Kings 13:1, 1 Kings 20 and 2 Kings 24.
One time the lions didn’t attack and kill. What happened? When Daniel refused to stop praying toward Jerusalem, he was thrown into the lion’s den. The Bible says that God sent an angel that shut the mouths of the lions! Those poor cats couldn’t even drink water through a straw. The Persian king Darius liked Daniel, a lot! When he saw that Daniel’s God rescued him he was astonished. The angry king ordered those who falsely accused Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den—along with their wives and children! What happened next you ask? “And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” Daniel 6:24
In accordance with Persian custom, this cruel punishment was transferred to those who had conspired against the king by provoking him into an unjust action. Look at Ester 7:9-10. The king’s great anger resulted in the execution of the evil officials and their families. Evil deeds often backfire on those who plan cruelty. Although Daniel was captive in a strange land, his devotion to God was a testimony to powerful rulers. Day in and day out Daniel prayed and built up a faithful consistency of what to do in times of trouble and prosperity. Daniel was faced with faith in God and death. Daniel never saw obstacles, he saw opportunities. If you find yourself in new surroundings, take the opportunity to testify about God’s power in your life. Be faithful to God so he can use you to make an impact on others.
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