The Devouring Lion

© Olgalis

In Crate Trained Believers, I submitted that as Believers, we should reflect the attributes of a lion and a lamb, because that’s who Yeshua is. When one’s self-image is out of kilter, it skews one’s true identity, and the image of Elohim in the earth. If we could really grasp the reality of who we are, our lives and impact on the world would be changed for the better. Many of think of themselves as weak, powerless, and vulnerable. These are NOT the traits of a lamb of Elohim. The problem seems to come from a false view of humility, which was the focus of the previous post.

Our Messiah is returning for a Bride of like kind. She will be both gentle (like a lamb) and fierce (like a lion), not one or the other. In order to be a spotless Bride, we must know how to be both. If we carefully follow the example of our Messiah, we can do just that. I have witnessed many that are gentle like a lamb, to a fault. They are proverbial doormats, and the host or hostess of the best pity parties. Their poor self-image renders them ineffective. Who would ever what to join the ranks of the Kingdom if this is the nature of its subjects?

On the other hand, I have also witnessed many that have become nothing more than a devouring lion. Mercy, grace, and compassion are exchanged for severity, strictness, and judgment. These prideful ones have forgotten how to be a lamb. Balance is the key to most issues of life and this is no exception.

Over the past decade, I have watched the Father gently awaken His people to His Torah. (I was one of them!) When our eyes begin to open, there is a rainbow of emotions that flood our lenses. Unspeakable joy, elation at answered questions, and a renewed hunger to seek after the Kingdom are some of the positive ones. But there are also some negative emotions like deep regret, guilt, shame, and immense anger. Truth sets one free, but it also sheds light on areas that we didn’t even know were dark. Therefore, repentance takes on a whole new meaning, and accountability skyrockets. Awakening to the Torah with Messiah is a hard place to stand in the beginning, and many have difficulty finding balance. Weeding through truth and lies is not for the weak hearted.

Those that come out on the other side usually take one of two forms. They are either humbled by the mercy of the King, determined to show His truth and mercy to the masses. Or, they become rigid and cold, resolute on scaring the masses into submission (their idea of righteousness). Many have been party to both sides as their internal pendulum swings, seeking balance.

Hear Me Roar

Sadly, many that have “awakened” to the Torah of YHWH have become a roaring lion without the restraint and gentleness of the lamb. I see and definitely hear them growling at any and everybody, but they are not tempered with mercy, grace, or compassion (lamb traits). While their zeal is commendable, they have forgotten their first love and the mercy that the Lamb extended to them. They forego righteous judgment for self-righteous judgment. They become the very thing they claim to hate: sanctimonious bigots.

They can’t meet with so-in-so because they don’t agree on this teaching, doctrine, etc. They isolate themselves from family that remains in the church (and smugly call them pagans); they burn bridges and create enemies at every turn all in the name of righteousness. If they would simply turn around and look at the destruction they have caused along the way, they would see that instead of planting, they are uprooting. They have no legacy of fruit and increase, only decay and death. All they can say is, “But I’m right! I read it on the internet or studied it out for myself.”

They are the image of the roaring lion seeking someone to devour, not the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1Pet. 5:8)

There is a fine line here. The verses just before this have this to say:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:6-7)

We must understand and practice humility. A humble person puts another BEFORE himself, even if that person is less mature, imperfect, ignorant, and far from deserving it. This requires immense strength, compassion, and real sacrificial love. If your motive is to be “right” or even “holy,”[1] you are the weaker vessel operating in pride.

OUCH! I sadly have been this roaring lion when confronted with various issues and people in the past. I never want to make these mistakes again. Jacob is a lioness, but within that lioness is a gentle lamb, like Yeshua. We must be both, because He is both. There is a time for the lamb and time for the lion.

How do we discern the difference between the Lion of Judah and the Devouring Lion? The name tells us everything we need to know. Judah means “praise,” while devour means “to ravenously eat or destroy.” Does your life have a legacy of praise or better yet, do the people you influence have a legacy of praise? Or do you and they have a spirit that constantly divides brothers, condemns the ignorant, and gobbles up the faith of the immature? In other words, does your faith cause the weak to praise YHWH? Or does your faith sentence the weak to the pit?

As I surf the web, blogosphere, and social media, I “hear” many roaring lions that claim to keep Torah and follow Messiah. But they have no traits of a lamb whatsoever. When one realizes the depth of the lies we were taught and believed, it often invokes a spirit of anger. In fact, it makes many furious. If this strong emotion is not tempered with the cool and loving Holy Spirit, destruction is sure to follow.

Is this the heart of the Lion of Judah? Is His judgment ever NOT tempered with mercy, compassion, long-suffering, and love? If He still lends mercy and compassion to the masses, shouldn’t we? Can we leave our vengeful anger to Him? Can we instead be profoundly grateful for the long-suffering mercy He extended to us and offer that same compassion to those in ignorance, or even rebellion?

Who are you following: 
the devouring lion or the Lion AND the Lamb?