This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.
Sneaky Sinners – The Fox
Jesus is not done with that fox yet. Foxes are cute,
majestic, beautiful animals. They are phenomenal climbers, and by all
appearances, quite smart. If we did not know the mischief that they can cause,
we might want to keep them as pets!
Jesus called the pretend king in his day a fox:
Go and tell that fox, “Behold, I
cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I
finish my course.” ~
Luke 13:32
Discussion:
1.
There are all manner of flatterers in this world
who only want to use you to get what they want. They will not tell you that, of
course, but you can discern their motives. Read 2 Timothy 3:2–5; what are the
marks of these false teachers?
2.
False teachers—who only use the Bible for their
own gain—are known to sneak into houses and capture people’s faith (2 Timothy
3:6–7) and lead many astray (2 Timothy 2:16–18). How can you know if someone is
being gentle to serve you, or crafty to hurt you?
3.
Satan is the sneakiest being in the Bible
(Genesis 3:1, 2 Corinthians 11:3), but he’s not the only one (2 Corinthians
11:15). The opposite of sneakiness is forthrightness, sharing the truth
confidently and without any deceit. Is there anything you have been sneaky
about that you should confess? Would Jesus call you a fox?
The Lord dismisses Herod's threat with contempt by calling him 'that fox'—a creature characterized in Scripture not by courage or nobility, but by cowardice, slyness, and insignificance. Jesus is stating that His movements are not determined by the petty designs of men, but by the immutable, sovereign schedule of God. ~ John MacArthur
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