30 years ago, I was half way through my four-year stint in the Army. At the time I was attached to the 362nd Engineer Battalion and on one occasion spent three months in Kenya building a landing strip for the Kenyan government. Our base camp was about 90 miles south of Nairobi out in the middle of nowhere. As we set about clearing the brush for the landing strip, we uncovered Black Mambas, Forest Cobra’s, and Monitor Lizards. Every day we worked under the watchful eye of dozens of baboons who seemingly couldn’t get enough of the entertainment that we provided. Road graders, bulldozers and water trucks kicked up plumes of dust that made life miserable as we worked 10-hour days under the hot equatorial sun. All of this heavy equipment required constant maintenance by a host of mechanics of which I was one. Outside of the animal sightings one of the things that we like to do in our off time was play cards with some Kenyan soldiers. Of course, nothing goes better with cards than warm Tusker beer! After one particular rousing night of cards and beer it was time to head back to our base camp, which was on a dirt road about a mile from where the Kenyans were staying. It was a moonless night which allowed for the sky to explode with stars. I was rather enjoying this late-night walk when I heard an unmistakable sound. It was a sound that literally made me stop in my tracks so that I could get a bearing of where it was coming from. Have you ever been in a situation where you are coming up from a darkened basement or walking in the woods when you just know there is something behind you? The hair raises on your arms, your heart starts beating faster, because you just know there is either a demon or Michael Myers about to get you. And then once you get to your place of safety you have a chuckle about how foolish you were. This time though the sound wasn’t a figment of my imagination, there actually was something behind me and it was a lion.
While there aren’t many lions roaming in Southern California where I grew up, I had watched enough National Geographic shows to recognize the distinctive sound of a lion. Even in my drunken stupor I knew there was absolutely zero chance of mistaking this lions grunt for anything else. Remembering that a lion’s call can be heard for up to several miles didn’t bring me much comfort either. Not knowing how far this animal was from me I determined to stay on the dirt road that separated our camps and walk steadily toward the one thing that brought me comfort, and I can still see it to this day; the light from our base camp off in the distance. In spite of the roaring lion around me I could see the end in sight.
One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is the story of the prophet Daniel. Having been exiled to a land far from his home Daniel became a trusted advisor in the royal court of Darius the King. Through politics and power struggles Daniel became the object of disdain to many of the other government officials. Their jealousy drove them to plot the demise of Daniel by unwittingly involving the King. A plot was hatched to convince the King to send out an edict that any person who bowed down and prayed to anyone other than the King would be subjected to death by lions. These officials knew that Daniel was a pious man who prayed often and that his devotion would be his undoing:
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10
I love this painting by Briton Riviere. In it he shows Daniel with his back to the lions, but more importantly his face is steadfastly pointed toward God. In spite of the ominous fate that awaited those who disobeyed the edict, Daniel prayed fully knowing that he was signing his own death warrant. He prayed in spite of the voices that were roaring around him. He prayed having kept his eyes on the One he was praying to. Daniel was resolute in his devotion to God and would have loudly sung the song “Who You Say I Am” made popular by Hillsong. One verse is below:
I am chosen
Not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me
Not against me
I am who You say I am
Daniel knew who he was; a devote follower of the King Most High! Not even the roar of ravenous lions could distract him from his purpose in life.
So what lions are in your life right now roaring around you; scary voices, negative thoughts, that are filling you with fear? In facing your fears are you walking alone, or do you have someone to journey with you? And finally, what do you have your eyes set upon to help you stay the course? Can you see the end? Is there hope? Let me leave you with the words of the Psalmist who writes:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Daniel's Answer to the King, Briton Riviere, 1890