How Does a Lamb Survive in the Wolves’ Lair?
David W Palmer
(Matthew 10:16 NKJV) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
Jesus has an urgent mission on this earth; God sent him to reconcile lost humanity. But he encountered stiff opposition here because Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4)—a pretender king with a usurped kingdom:
(Matthew 11:12 DKJV) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven forcefully advances, and the forceful [ones] try to seize it back by force.
Jesus chooses and calls followers—apprentices whom he can disciple into his ways. He saves them, giving them a new birth with God’s nature—making them suitable to live in his kingdom of love, acceptance, encouragement, and nurture, eternally. But …
(John 20:21 NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Because his mission is critical and urgent, Jesus has to send his newly recreated delegates back into the world from which he rescued them. This is risky and dangerous. Like tender shoots and vulnerable lambs, they now take his message of love and reconciliation on a rescue mission into a very hostile environment:
(2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NKJV) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, {19} that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Suddenly, the same new creations that are struggling to renew their minds to the realities of God’s amazing love, have to contend with Satan’s anger and the world’s hostility at them. What Jesus says as he sends them in his name is so very real:
(Luke 10:3 NLT) “Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.”
I can’t imagine a more innocent image than a lamb, a more treacherous predator than a wolf, and a more lethal scenario than purposely putting a lamb among wolves. Yet, this is exactly the picture Jesus uses to describe the setting into which he is sending us … you! Yes, you are in danger. Yes, you are vulnerable. But yes; he is with you always, and he provides invisible protection for you:
(Matthew 28:20 NLT) “… And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Psalm 91:1 NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Jesus is always with us; and his invisible protection will be over us if we “dwell”—abide, live permanently, remain, and live with him—in the secret place of intimacy, submission, and loving worship. This is the way he guarantees our protection from unnecessary harm.
The second half of his instruction clarifies this:
(Matthew 10:16 NLT) “So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”
(Matthew 10:16 NIV) “Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Apart from the general instructions of abiding in the secret place, living by faith, loving enemies, etc., this is the specific instruction Jesus gives for surviving as vulnerable lambs sent into a wolf pack.
“Shrewd” implies being wise, intelligent, thoughtful, prudent, and mindful of one’s own interests. In other words, “Watch your step if you want to survive.” This is where we need—absolutely need—a deep and profound working knowledge of Jesus’s survival instructions:
(Matthew 5:39–48 DKJV) But I say to you, do not take a stand against anyone who does you evil; instead, whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn to him the other as well. {40} And if anyone wants to take you to court to get your shirt, let him have your coat as well. {41} And whoever compels you to go a mile, go with him two. {42} Give to him that asks you, and don’t turn away the person that wants to borrow from you. … love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you, and persecute you. … {48} Therefore, be completely perfect in love, just as your Father in heaven is completely perfect in love.
When we put these into practice, we are releasing a force far greater than the devouring power of wolves—no matter how hungry they are, or how many of them come for us. This is why Jesus took his apprentices through his mountaintop classroom before sending them on any missions. Jesus would not send us on such a dangerous assignment without giving us the necessary survival skills and equipment.
Remember, God is all-powerful; Satan is created and limited. God’s kingdom of love, trust, and humility is infinitely more powerful than Satan’s counterfeit kingdom of destruction, death, fear, intimidation, and rebellion. When we—from the ultimate stronghold of abiding in the secret place with God—obey Jesus’s instructions as the Holy Spirit prompts, we are releasing the infinitely more powerful Kingdom of God to enforce its rule over Satan’s toppling kingdom and his failing world system.
Today, let’s remember the basics. In the natural realm, you are like a lamb sent among wolves. Your only strength and protection come from the spirit realm. So walk in the spirit, keep your head in all situations, be ever mindful of the enemy’s devouring and destructive ways, and put all your faith in God and his kingdom of love, faith, and submission. When you do, you will be like Jesus sleeping through a storm, like Daniel at peace among the lions, and like Daniel’s three friends who walked through the fire and emerged without even the smell of smoke adhering to them.
(2 Timothy 4:5 NIV) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
(1 John 4:4 NLT) But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
