IN some parts of Africa, lions are numerous and very troublesome, attacking and carrying off the cattle or anything they can eat. And when they can find nothing else, they do not hesitate to carry off men and women. In one place, a few years ago, there were sixteen men carried off in one week!
You may be quite sure, that if anyone could kill a lion it would be thought to be a great thing, and a very good thing too. Well, one day the report was raised that a lion was wounded, and many turned out with their guns well loaded, to see if they could kill him. They had to be very careful, for not long before, a wounded lion had killed four men.
Presently the report of a gun was heard, then several more, and then a tremendous growl. The lion was soon killed. Then the natives jumped about for joy. The gentleman who describes the scene found one man rubbing the face of another with some plant—I suppose to save him, as they thought, from the relative of the lion hurting him in revenge. Another had had his tooth knocked out by putting too much powder in his gun, or from holding it badly. But all were full of joy.
There was the dead lion; a noble creature. And the gentleman, standing by the lion, at once told them of the one in scripture, who is compared to a lion.
“The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Pet. 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8). As the lions in that country walk about quietly, and suddenly spring upon a poor man and carry him off, so the devil roams about silently and unseen, seeking to destroy men’s souls. How thankful we ought to be to know of the One who is stronger than the devil, and can save us, body and soul, from him—that One is the Lord Jesus Christ. And, though there are no lions in this country roaming about to carry off men, women, and children, the devil is here as a roaring lion: and none can deliver us out of his power, but God through Jesus Christ: will you not trust in Him?
ML 06/11/1922