Beck
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
– Isaiah 11: 6
Sometimes I am fascinated by contrasts. On the way home I was listening to the car radio, and “The Lion and The Lamb” song came on. I will admit that I didn’t hear much of the song because I was thinking about the lion and the lamb. In the book of Genesis (Chapter 49) when Jacob blesses his sons, he refers to Judah as the cub of a lion, and the book of Revelations (Chapter 5) refers to the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The next verse in Revelations brings in the Lamb who was slain. The Lion of Judah in contrast with the Lamb of God, whose earthly father, Joseph, was of the tribe of Judah. The Lion and the Lamb … quite a contrast.
I have both inside me; sometimes I rage like a lion, other times I am full of peace. I suppose many of us are like that, sometimes gentle and sometimes not. We are products of our experiences and environment, and yet, God loves us anyway.
Over the years I have learned how enriching contrasts can be. I have lived in Europe and in Asia; I have enjoyed the culture of different peoples. I have learned that their skies are as blue as mine. I have worked with people with different talents, gifts, and backgrounds. The differences are what brings variety and interest to our lives.
As our season changes from spring into summer, we enjoy the differences in the weather, in the flowers that bloom, and in the variety of wildlife that we see.
I pray that you may enjoy these differences that God has provided, and that you welcome the differences that bring interest to our lives.
Bob Beck is district commander of Creswell VFW Post 4039 and a lay leader at his church.
