Lessons Learned from Water Buffalo in Kenya

I Peter 5:8 talks about Satan being like a lion prowling around looking for someone to devour.  I recently was privileged to see a lion at work while I was on a safari in Kenya. It’s a powerful analogy. Lions don’t just jump into the middle of a flock and hope they come up with dinner. They are very intentional. They crouch in the distance and search for the most vulnerable in the herd. Once the prey is spotted, the lion never takes his eyes off of his subject as he slowly, and methodically prowls toward the target.

I apprehensively watched with baited breath as the lioness slowly made her way toward a baby water buffalo at the edge of the herd. I wanted to warn the baby and it’s mother, but I had just seen the four lion cubs who had been waiting all day for dinner, they were starving, and there were thousands upon thousands of water buffalo, impala, gazelle and the like, so I watched as the circle of life unfolded before my somewhat horrified eyes.

And then to my surprise and joy it happened – a transformative moment that will forever change the way I think about the power of Satan (and lions). Mom and the baby water buffalo got up and moved toward the center of the herd and five young bulls came out and stood at the edge of the herd. They stared down the lioness and then started charging her, and the lioness turned tail and ran! I couldn’t believe it, a group of water buffalo with hooves, and teeth made for chewing grass chased off a lioness who possessed razor sharp teeth and claws.

What if we did that? What if we, as the body of Christ, took the most vulnerable among us, the young and old, confused and hurting, week and anxious – and moved them toward the center of our flock? What if those who were strong stood guard and confronted Satan and his faulty schemes on behalf of the vulnerable? What if we didn’t expect our weakest to face the strongest of adversaries alone?

We certainly have the power. Ephesians 1:19-20(NLT) tells us, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”  That same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and that same power lives in me.  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine according to His power which is at work within us, to Him be the glory.” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

Brothers and sister, fellow members of my buffalo heard,  “If God is with us, who can stand against us?”   Let’s work together and remind each other to move our most vulnerable to the protective custody of the center of our flock. Let’s stand up for them and fight on their behalf instead of leaving them to fend for themselves. Martin Luther once said, “One plus God is a majority”. So imagine two plus God!