Your Great Challenge
The book "Killing Lions" is a conversation between John and Sam Eldredge about the trials young men face.
[Sam] I recently read an article about a young Maasai man who came to the United States to pursue his master’s degree and then a doctoral degree. Before arriving in the Western world, the young warrior had killed a lion in order to protect his village and their cattle. This practice is deep in their tradition—that young men must face and defeat a lion with a spear, should it attack their livestock. He had been badly wounded, as one would expect, but after slaying the predator he was regarded as a hero and a leader. I can’t imagine any university final or job interview being very daunting for a man with lion scars across his chest.
There was something about that story that spoke to the deep places in my soul—something about having faced a great challenge, one in which victory was far from certain yet conquering it, that makes me wonder. If I had prevailed through my own great trial, would I walk taller or carry a greater confidence into this uncertain future? I can’t help but think: if I had taken down a lion, life wouldn’t feel like I’m heading out into the bush with only an iPhone at my side.
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The book "Killing Lions" is a conversation between John and Sam Eldredge about the trials young men face.
[Sam] I recently read an article about a young Maasai man who came to the United States to pursue his master’s degree and then a doctoral degree. Before arriving in the Western world, the young warrior had killed a lion in order to protect his village and their cattle. This practice is deep in their tradition—that young men must face and defeat a lion with a spear, should it attack their livestock. He had been badly wounded, as one would expect, but after slaying the predator he was regarded as a hero and a leader. I can’t imagine any university final or job interview being very daunting for a man with lion scars across his chest.
There was something about that story that spoke to the deep places in my soul—something about having faced a great challenge, one in which victory was far from certain yet conquering it, that makes me wonder. If I had prevailed through my own great trial, would I walk taller or carry a greater confidence into this uncertain future? I can’t help but think: if I had taken down a lion, life wouldn’t feel like I’m heading out into the bush with only an iPhone at my side.
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THE FIRE FROM THE LORD
The Israelites were prone to complain against the Lord and his anointed leaders. At an earlier stage, only three days after their miraculous deliverance from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, they murmured against God because they lacked water (Ex 15:22 – 24). Here, after another three-day journey, they complained again (for unspecified reasons). Their complaints demonstrated a failure to trust God to meet the needs of his people, even though he had always cared for them. This act of rebellion necessitated the judgment of God, which came in the form of fire from the Lord that consumed some of the people. The dual attributes of God’s judgment and his mercy are on display. Someof the people on the outskirtsof the camp were destroyed, but not all of the people throughout the camp. The fire from the Lord is both an act of judgment and a warning to the entire nation.
Fire is symbolic of the judgment of God against the contamination of sin (Ge 19:24). During his earthly ministry, two of Jesus’ disciples asked him if they should call down fire from heaven to consume an inhospitable Samaritan village. Jesus, however, rebuked the disciples (Lk 9:51 – 55).
The coming day of the Lord, at the end of this age, will be marked by the same fire of judgment (2Pe 3:10). This fire will purge the earth and all created things from the contamination brought about by sin. Those who remain hostile to God will be destroyed and thrown “into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:49 – 50).
These dire warnings function like the fire seen in Numbers 11. They demonstrate the unrivaled holiness of God and his utter hatred of the sins that deface his good, created order. However, God in his goodness allows time for those who do not know him to believe. His Word urges people to turn to him while it is still “Today” (Heb 3:12 – 13). Additionally, an urgency is placed on believers to make Jesus known to those who do not know him. The Lord desires that no one on earth would perish (Jn 3:16; 2Pe 3:9).
Jesus, thank you for your goodness and for your patience with us. I pray that the people in my life who do not know you would turn to you today, before it is too late. Put a sense of urgency in my heart and in theirs. Amen.
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