When I open my computer, I see a picture of a giraffe. It is a picture I took years ago when Bob and I took our two California grandsons on a road trip while their parents celebrated an anniversary in Hawaii. It was a trip I will never forget. During that trip we spent time in a wild-life park and met Elle the Giraffe.
I learned a lot about giraffes on that trip. I have often heard people refer to giraffes when they talk about whether or not God makes mistakes, or whether or not God has a sense of humor. They’ll say … just look at giraffes!
Well, we did look at giraffes—up close and personal on this trip. Tall, stately, lovely soft eyes, gentle demeanor. I learned that giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans, but theirs are more like a ball joint that allows maximum flexibility and strength.
I learned something else. In the wild, giraffes serve as an early warning system for other smaller animals. Because of their great height they can spot predators much farther away. Herds of smaller animals will stay close to the giraffes because of this. When the giraffes split because they see trouble coming, everyone else does too.
As believers in Christ Jesus, God has given us the responsibility and the ability to see trouble coming. He has promised to speak through His prophets. He also urges us to be on the alert for the ways of the enemy. By His Spirit within us, He enables us to see from great heights in times of danger.
While we are warned in the Scriptures to resist the enemy and he will flee from us, we are also warned that there are times when we are to flee — from idolatry and sexual immorality, from the love of money and the evil desires of youth.
(I Cor 6:18, 1 Cor 10:14, 1 Tim 6:11, 2 Tim 2:22)
