Don’t Poke The Lion

DON’T POKE THE LION

Num. 24:8-9

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: SNORING IN CHURCH

1. A man went to see his doctor for advice about being cured of snoring. The doctor asked, “Does your snoring disturb your wife?”

2. The patient replied, “Does it disturb my wife? Why it disturbs the entire congregation.”

B. CENTRAL IDEA

1. We humans consider that we have conquered the world. It’s animals, no matter how big or fierce, are subject to us. So humans don’t have the respect that we should for the ferocious predators that God made to keep the populations of more docile creatures under control.

2. And often we hear stories of people getting too close to buffaloes, bears, hippos, or crocodiles in the wild and getting maimed or killed.

3. Another example of this miscalculation is humans getting into close proximity to tigers and lions. Many of us have seen circus shows with lion tamers who force lions to jump through hoops of fire, dance upright on their back legs, walk a ball around the ring, or the tamer put their head in the lion’s mouth. These entertainers are taking a big chance – because God’s giant wild cats always retain a violent and untamable nature.

4. Since 2016 there have been a spate of lion attacks on their trainers & keepers all across the world (in which the humans were killed):

a. 12-2-16 Shaheen Islam in Egypt

b. 8-22-19 Leon van Biljon in South Africa

c. 12-31-24 zoo guard F. Irislukov in Uzbekistan

d. 9-12-25 Jian Rangkarassamee in Thailand

e. 9-21-25 “Tiger King” Joe Exotic in USA

f. 10-19-25 Oleksly Pinko in Ukraine

g. 10-21-25 Alexey Makarenko in Sochi, Russia

5. The majority of trainer attacks have been credited to the fact that lion trainers use harsh techniques to force the wild cats to perform the feats – like whips, shocks, humiliation, and not feeding them until they obey. And the big cats don’t forget how they’ve been treated.

6. But the biggest problem was thinking the creatures were tamed, that there was no danger, that the cats were under their control.

C. TITLE

1. Tonight I want to look at the phrase, "Don't poke the lion." This phrase suggests that we avoid unnecessarily provoking someone or something powerful and potentially dangerous. It emphasizes that disturbing a strong entity can lead to negative consequences.

2. There are at least 3 lions in Scripture: the devil, the church, and the Son of God, Jesus.

I. THE DEVIL “AS A LION”

A. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE DEVIL

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Pet. 5:8, NKJV. Peter gives us 4 directives concerning the devil:

1. BE SOBER (MINDED) – Serious, self-controlled, NOT intoxicated with the world. The kind of mind that keeps eternity in focus and doesn’t drift into the fog of fear or temptation.

2. BE VIGILANT – alert & watchful. Jesus told the sleepy disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation” (Matt. 26:41). The call hasn’t changed. Alertness is proactive, scanning the horizon for subtle compromise or sudden assault.

3. YOUR ADVERSARY – Satan is a real, personal enemy—not merely a symbol of evil (Eph. 6:11–12). The Bible says he’s an accuser (Rev. 12:10) and liar (Jn. 8:44). He “prowls” around, implying patience and strategy. In Job 1:7 he’s pictured as roaming the earth as if looking for a victim.

4. AS A ROARING LION

a. A lion’s roar paralyzes their prey with terror; the devil uses intimidation, doubt, and shame to freeze believers (Ps. 22:13). Yet the roar is also a bluff; Christ has already “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Col. 2:15). Satan is “…seeking someone to devour” – to destroy. Partial surrender is never his goal.

b. We really do need to recognize that the devil is dangerous and is an opponent we can’t ignore. He’s been mortally wounded, but wounded animals are often more dangerous than non-wounded ones.

B. WE CAN POKE THIS LION!

1. Not only can we poke this lion, the Lord tells us to “trample” on him; “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” Lk. 10:19.

2. Paul said, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” Rom. 16:20. Aren’t you glad Satan is under your feet?

3. Jesus “gave [His disciples] power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” Matt. 10:1 NKJV; Mk. 6:7. We have power over the devil! WE CAN POKE THE LION!

II. THE CHURCH AS A LION

A. SCRIPTURE

Num. 24:8-9, “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them. 9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?” Here a prophet describes the people of God as a lion who better not be roused.