In the Presence of Beast

Scripture Reference Mark 1:13 “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”

I want to share a teaching I received, and now that God has made it a reality in my life, I feel the pressing desire to show forth this word, so that others can receive the healing and the blessing that the LORD has shown me.

This is a familiar passage of scripture.  Many of us know how Jesus was led, or driven into the wilderness by the Spirit of God to be tempted, or rather proven or approved of God, by the devil.  We know that after the testing, or trials, that the Angels came and ministered to Him.  But look closely, Mark is the only one who records this very strange middle phrase: “and was with the wild beast”.  Doesn’t that seem odd? 

First let’s back up.  In verse 11 of the same chapter, we learn that Jesus has just received the highest accreditation He could receive when God decides not to send an angel as a messenger from heaven, but rather chooses to rise up off of His throne and part the heavens Himself to speak so that not only the earth hears Him, but all of the host of heaven, and declares, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  It is interesting to note that Jesus, by the Spirit of God, was “immediately driven into the wilderness”.  So for all those who are wondering, “Why is this happening to me”, maybe God is pushing you out of your comfort zone to show forth His work!  Yes the LORD does lead us into a time of testing sometimes, how else would we know we can respond in a Christ-like way, to a certain level of test?

But let’s focus on the mentioning of the “wild beast”.  Why were they there?  You would think that if God were going to send ministry to you, that He would remove the “wild beast” out of your life.  Also notice that the “wild beast” didn’t do anything.  They were just there.

The “wild beast” represents all the chaos and confusion in your life.  The chaos and confusion in your life are all there as a distraction: to get you to take your eyes off of God.  We focus on our money problems, forgetting that the LORD is our Jehovah-Jireh (Gen 22:14), our Provider.  We focus on finding a way, forgetting that the LORD is Jehovah-Rohi (Psalm 23), our Shepard.  We focus on our weakness, forgetting that the LORD is our Jehovah-Tsori (Psalm 19:14), our Strength.  We focus on our unrest, forgetting that the LORD is our Jehovah-Shalom (Isaiah 9:6), our Peace.  We focus on our sickness, forgetting that the LORD is our Jehovah-Rophe (Isaiah 53:4, 5) our Healer.  We focus on our not being able to make it, forgetting that the LORD is or Jehovah- Mephalti (Psalm 18:2), our Deliverer.

The problems in your life cannot stop the blessing that God has for you, and His ministering that He is doing to you. It’s time we stop focusing on our “wild beast” and start focusing on our GREAT BIG GOD!  Jehovah, we praise YOU!