Encouragement

The Rescued Lamb

by Ezekiel Olukolajo
01/08/22
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THE RESCUED LAMB

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 1 Samuel 17:34-35;  

In 1 Samuel 17, 34-35, we have the account of David’s miraculous triumph over a lion and a bear. As David stood face to face with Goliath, the testimony of his victory over both a lion and a bear became a major trigger for another victory over Goliath, the Philistine warlord. As I rehearsed in my heart, the testimony of how David killed both the lion and the bear that attempted to eat up one of the sheep under his watch, it suddenly occurred to me that the real hero in the whole episode was not David, but the innocent lamb that did not die, despite the fact that it had been to the jaws of a lion.   

David’s conquest of the lion and the bear undoubtedly was a big testimony, but there appears to be even a much bigger testimony wrapped in the whole incident, which was the miraculous escape of the little lamb that almost became food for a voracious lion. Most of us often applaud and focus on David’s killing of the lion and the bear, but rarely celebrate the real hero, which was the little lamb that returned alive from a place that could be best described as “the valley of shadow of death”. Yes, the rescued lamb walked the dark and gloomy path of death, but returned alive, to live again! The rescued lamb was the real hero!    

When the lamb found itself caught within the paws and jaws of the lion and the bear, it literally went through the lonely path, full of darkness, uncertainties, terrors and horrors of death. But for timely intervention of David, the shepherd boy with a shepherd heart, the lamb would have ended up as snack in the belly of the lion. Thanks to the Almighty God, at the point all hope of survival was totally lost, timely help came; the lamb was rescued alive from the jaws of death and hell.  

Sometimes in our lives as individuals, we go through certain experiences and situations that are similar to that of the little lamb that found itself in the lion’s jaws. Sometimes, we’re left all alone by ourselves in the midst of dreadful situations and horrible circumstances, with no hope of survival. But then, God is ever faithful, as the Good Shepherd, He shows up right on time to do everything that’s required to get us out of the paws and jaws of the lions.          

Yeah, it’s true, the rescued lamb may have returned with bruises, wounds and teeth marks all over its body, but what’s important is that it returned alive. For a moment, the lamb was firmly held within the claws, grips and jaws of the hungry lion, but it didn’t end up in its belly. The fact that you’re alive today, despite all the challenges and tough situations you’ve been through, is enough reason to let you know that you’re a hero just like the rescued lamb. Ecclesiastes 9:4 says “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion”. For each day you wake up to witness, you’re a hero!

It’s only the lamb that had been to the jaws of the lion and returned alive that could tell what it feels like to be trapped within the lion’s paws and jaw. The praise of a lamb that returned alive from the jaws of the lion definitely could never be compared to the praise of any other regular lamb. It’s true that people would never know your praise if they never knew your pain!

Beloved, if year 2021 left some wounds, bruises or scars on you, it’s not to remind you of your pains or failures, but to reecho and remind you of God’s goodness and mercies that helped you through. As the rescued lamb, the excitement of the priceless opportunity to live again should fill every available space in your heart; there should be totally no room for sorrow, self-pity or despair. If God’s grace and mercies brought you this far, it surely will take you further. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.   

Can you imagine the testimony of the rescued lamb? Can you measure the gratitude of the rescued lamb? Can you explain the excitement of the rescued lamb? Can you describe the victory of the rescued lamb? Can you comprehend the joy of the rescued lamb? As year 2022 begins, just like the rescued lamb, you must start off the journey as a hero, because that’s who you are! I see God give you a brand new life, brand new opportunities, just like the rescued lamb, and you cannot afford to not appreciate and make most of it. God is putting a new song in your mouth, the song of the rescued lamb.

Happy New Year!     

Hope this blesses someone….

Ezekiel Olukolajo
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