Lion, Leopard and Bear

Hosea 13:6-8.

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me.

Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

Often, when we are comfortable financially, we lose some of our zeal to live for God. We have no unmet needs. Our pastures are abundant, and we grow full of ourselves, forgetting to seek God’s blessing. Just as Israel did in Hosea’s time, we forget God when things are good.

The three beasts mentioned in this passage–the lion, leopard, and bear–were well-known in Israel. They were merciless in hunting down their prey, and killed quickly. The lion and the leopard used stealth to take their victims unaware, disguising themselves in the grass or a tree. The bear who is enraged at the loss of her young is capable of great speed, and has immense strength. God uses these animals to describe the judgment that will fall on Israel because of their faithlessness to Him.

The caul mentioned here is a membranous sac that protects the heart, which of course is vital to life. It would seem that a bear would claw off this caul in order to eat the heart of the kill.This small detail made me stop to consider the importance of guarding our hearts against the depredation of Satan, who wants to destroy all that God loves.