Chief
Chief of Sinners.
In June 2005, something extraordinary happened in a remote corner of Ethiopia that left even hardened police officers calling it a miracle.
A 12-year-old girl had been kidnapped by men who wanted to force her into marriage - a practice still common in pockets of rural Ethiopia. For seven days, she endured beatings as her captors tried to break her spirit.
But then, three lions appeared.
Instead of attacking the terrified child, these wild predators chased away her abductors. And then they did something even more remarkable: they stayed with her. For half a day, the lions stood guard over the young girl until her family and police could find her.
"They stood guard until we found her," said Sergeant Wondimu Wedajo, "and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest."
In this Ethiopian wilderness, God turned the fiercest of predators into gentle protectors.
The local sergeant said what everyone was thinking: "Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, because normally the lions would attack people."
Perhaps her whimpering sounded like a lion cub's cry, as one wildlife expert suggested. Or perhaps, as the people of that region believed, God simply ordained these wild animals to become instruments of His deliverance.
The girl was rescued. Four of her abductors were caught. And a community witnessed something they would never forget.
The next time you feel forgotten or abandoned, remember the girl in Ethiopia. Remember that the same God who commands lions is watching over you. And He has a thousand ways to deliver you that you've never even imagined.
"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." - Psalm 34:7
A 12-year-old girl had been kidnapped by men who wanted to force her into marriage - a practice still common in pockets of rural Ethiopia. For seven days, she endured beatings as her captors tried to break her spirit.
But then, three lions appeared.
Instead of attacking the terrified child, these wild predators chased away her abductors. And then they did something even more remarkable: they stayed with her. For half a day, the lions stood guard over the young girl until her family and police could find her.
"They stood guard until we found her," said Sergeant Wondimu Wedajo, "and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest."
God's Unexpected Instruments
The Scripture reminds us that God can use anything (and anyone) to accomplish His purposes. He spoke through a donkey. He fed Elijah through ravens. He shut the mouths of lions to protect Daniel.In this Ethiopian wilderness, God turned the fiercest of predators into gentle protectors.
The local sergeant said what everyone was thinking: "Everyone thinks this is some kind of miracle, because normally the lions would attack people."
A Father's Heart
This story reveals something beautiful about God's character: His fierce protection of the vulnerable. When a frightened child cried out in the wilderness, Heaven responded. Not through an angel, but through three lions who somehow knew not to harm her.Perhaps her whimpering sounded like a lion cub's cry, as one wildlife expert suggested. Or perhaps, as the people of that region believed, God simply ordained these wild animals to become instruments of His deliverance.
The girl was rescued. Four of her abductors were caught. And a community witnessed something they would never forget.
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
We serve a God who sees every tear, hears every cry, and moves heaven and earth to protect His children. Sometimes His intervention is quiet and unseen. Sometimes it's dramatic enough that even secular news reports call it miraculous.The next time you feel forgotten or abandoned, remember the girl in Ethiopia. Remember that the same God who commands lions is watching over you. And He has a thousand ways to deliver you that you've never even imagined.
"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." - Psalm 34:7