🎵Aesop’s Fables Month: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Have you ever been truly fooled by someone? Worse, were you fooled because the liar was a great actor that looked and sounded exactly like someone or something you would naturally trust? Maybe the sheep would not be fooled by a fake shepherd (since YahShua said His sheep know His voice and won’t follow another shepherd), but who’s looking at the sheep right next to us? Aesop put it into a classic fable you’ll likely recognize.
Most of us grew up hearing a version of The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing that ended in sheer carnage—a helpless flock devoured from the inside out. Yet the oldest classical renderings of Aesop’s fable carry a very different, deeply ironic twist: a story not of predator victory, but of poetic justice, where the deceiver is ensnared by the very costume he crafted to fool others.
The Classic Fable Retold from Aesop’s Point of View
Frustrated by the watchful shepherd, the barking hounds, and the stone walls of the pasture, a hungry wolf realized that direct force would never win him a meal. Cunning would work far better than brute strength.
The Masquerade
Prowling the edges of the farm, the wolf discovered a thick, fluffy sheep’s fleece left drying over a split-rail fence after a sheep had been prepared for the farm table. Slipping the woolly skin over his back, he tucked in his sharp muzzle, concealed his dark paws, and flattened his bushy tail beneath the disguise.
The Infiltration
Ambling into the open meadow, the wolf mimicked the slow, quiet grazing of an ordinary ewe. The disguise worked flawlessly. The sheep paid him no attention, the shepherds conversed leaning against their staves, and the farm dog slept lazily in the grass without a flicker of suspicion. When dusk gathered, the shepherd whistled the flock together, leading every sheep—and the masquerading beast—safely into the stout stone fold, bolting the heavy gate for the night.
The Reckoning
The wolf chuckled in the darkness, waiting for the farm to fall asleep so he could feast. But late that night, the shepherd re-entered the fold holding a dim lantern, needing to supply meat for the coming day’s provisions. Reaching into the quiet pen in the dark, his hand clamped onto the thickest, heaviest wool in the flock. Before the trapped predator could shed his borrowed coat or bare a claw, the butcher’s blade fell. The deceiver met the very fate he had planned for the sheep.
~ ~ ~
The Snare of the Disguise
YahShua (Jesus) told us to watch carefully, and He gave us the timeless warning about deadly enemies masking their true intentions:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
— Matthew 7:15
Jude sounded the exact same alarm about those who slip into the assembly wearing innocent disguises:
“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness...”
— Jude 1:4
It shouldn’t take us by surprise that everyone who claims to be one of us (A Christian believer) is not so just because they say it. We have multiple warnings to protect ourselves from the prowling enemy looking for any trusting souls to devour. It’s hard, because we don’t want to believe in the possibility of someone who seems so nice actually being a trickster, but it’s their good acting ability that makes them strong deceivers. Pray for open eyes and for discernment like we talked about in yesterday’s post.
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14–15
Spiritual predators rarely show up with fangs bared and horns blaring. They borrow the gentle language, peaceful posture, and familiar outward appearance of the flock to creep in unawares. Yet Aesop’s ancient ending adds a reassuring truth for those who trust the Shepherd—deceit always carries its own undoing:
“He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.”
— Proverbs 26:27
No matter how clever the camouflage appears, the Chief Shepherd knows who belongs to Him. The deceiver’s trap ultimately collapses back upon himself, but the flock is called to remain alert, watchful, and standing firm in the Lord’s strength.
Christian, Dost Thou See Them?
Written by St. Andrew of Crete in the 8th century and translated by John Mason Neale, this solemn, dramatic hymn confronts the subtle, disguised forces of darkness that circle the soul—and summons the Christian to unrelenting spiritual vigilance:
– SZABO MUSIC (Hymn & Singalong) (with lyrics)
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Aesop’s Fables Month: The Cat and the Hens 🐈🐔🐔
There is an old, simple punchline that plays out in everyday life more often than we’d care to admit: someone knocks on the door offering help that sounds remarkably convenient, but everything in your spirit tells you to leave the latch bolted.
Aesop captured this comedic standoff centuries ago in a lively little encounter between a hungry feline and a coop of sharp-eyed hens.
The Classic Fable Retold
Knock Knock
Hearing that the hens down at the farm were feeling a bit under the weather, a sly tomcat devised an ingenious scheme to secure a hearty feast. Dressing himself in the dignified attire of a Victorian physician—complete with round wire-rimmed spectacles, a top hat, and a long frock coat—he tucked a medical bag beneath his arm and strutted up to the chicken coop. With a polite rap on the weathered wood, he inquired with deep theatrical concern after their health, announcing that he had brought the very medicine to cure their ailments.
Who’s There?
Peeking through the narrow wooden slats, the hens surveyed the distinguished “doctor.” They took note of the coat and the spectacles, but they also didn’t miss the whiskers, the flicking tail, or the sharp claws clutching the bag. With deadpan resolve, they replied through the locked door: “We will all do very well indeed, sir, if you will kindly leave us alone and be on your way!”
~ ~ ~
Spotting the Disguise: The Gift of Discernment
The humor in the story lies in how ridiculous the disguise really is to anyone paying attention. Yet how often do we drop our guard in life simply because something arrives wearing polite language, flattering promises, or an appearance of good intentions?
To avoid falling for these disguises, we need to see more deeply by using the gift of discernment as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10. An article at Bible Proclaimer written by Rev. Ian M. Thomas covers it very well in only a 6-minute read. Here’s a quote from the article:
Paul lists this gift among the manifestations of the Spirit given “for the common good” in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, and the phrase he uses is diakriseis pneumaton, literally the distinguishing of spirits. That plural matters more than most people notice when they read past it quickly.
Discernment isn’t something that happens by accident; Scripture teaches that spiritual wisdom grows sharp through daily practice and spiritual maturity:
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.”
— Hebrews 5:14
Those hens had their senses trained—they didn’t let a stethoscope and spectacles confuse their eyes. In the same way, we are instructed not to give our trust away cheaply, but to test what comes knocking at our door.
Spiritual discernment isn’t cynicism or paranoia; it is holy wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit. It is the quiet inner caution that tells us not every flattering voice deserves an open door into our lives, our homes, or our peace of mind. As Scripture instructs us:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God...”
— 1 John 4:1
When the enemy or the world comes knocking with a counterfeit remedy, we don’t have to entertain the conversation. Sometimes the wisest, most godly response is keeping the latch firmly in place and declaring: “We are doing just fine, thank you!”
Here’s a wonderful old hymn I’d never heard before that Gemini found as a suitable match to the subject of this post. It’s got great lyrics and a simple, very singable tune.
by CFC Songs & Hymns (with lyrics)
And now, just for fun, this post totally calls for this funny YouTube video from The Eric and Joe Show, a great comic team I got to see when they performed for The Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. It’s less than three minutes, and it’s adorable:
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🎵No Fear Invited
Well, this one is turning out to be a much bigger presentation and study than I planned, so I’m not going to do the whole thing just yet. But let the Scripture above (placed on a real Indiana sunset) be an encouragement for you.
1 John 2:24, 27 BSB
[24] As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father.
[27] And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/1jn.2.24-27.BSB
Remember what you have been taught from God’s Word. Search your heart for those truths God Himself has hidden there by His Spirit. Do not be misled, either in knowledge or emotion, by fearful words being shared in the name of Christ. Ask for, and practice, discernment. Paul reminds us that practicing discernment makes us better at it.
Hebrews 5:14 BSB
[14] But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/heb.5.14.BSB
If you’ve begun to hear the fearful whispers about UFO/UAP “secrets” being revealed that will challenge your beliefs in God, plan now to not be overwhelmed by the news. Do not invite the fear to dwell in your heart. Know that God is The Creator of the WHOLE universe, so that includes any and all entities that may be outside our visual realm here on Earth. Trust The Lord and do not doubt that He has everything in His hands and in His control. He has already been to the future and nothing takes Him by surprise. No matter how anointed someone says they are or seems to be, they do not have more knowledge (gnosticism) than God or His Word, so keep your heart in The Lord, and send fear on down the road.
There is much more to say on this subject, but I want my presentations to be accurate and truthful, so I will add to this when I have spent more time in prayer and Bible study. But I wanted to get the introduction to you as I’ve been seeing more and more talk of these things, and Christians need to be prepared to carry the banner of God’s Word in comfort and strength to those who do not yet follow our Savior and may be overcome with fear. Keep yourselves in The Word and Spirit, so you will have truthful answers for any who might ask your thoughts on these teachings when they are dispensed to the masses.
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A Circle of Secrets (Telephone Part 2)
Yesterday, I talked about the dangers of misunderstood communication (with the game of Telephone as an example). And I promised I’d share how that can influence and change the church. For example, the Bible doesn’t say “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” anywhere in Scripture. I’ve heard that it is actually in the Jewish books of wisdom, though. But it made it into regular church vernacular enough that many of us grew up thinking it was in the Bible.
Also, it never says there were 3 wise men, or that the wise men were kings, and yet we sing about it every Christmas. Oh, but wait, it doesn’t say a thing about Christmas either, but we can be relatively certain that December isn’t the correct season for the miraculous birth of Messiah. Yet, we create full programs and times of devotion around the season. And we surround our manger scenes with “angels” wearing halos not knowing that the word “halo” comes from the Greek word “Hélios” meaning “sun” and from the practice of sun worship.
The Bible does say to study to show yourself approved, and it warns that the ignorant may twist words (in the case of the Scripture reference, Paul’s words) to their own destruction.
2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
[15] Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.15.NLT
2 Peter 3:16 CSB
[16] He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
https://bible.com/bible/1713/2pe.3.16.CSB
I’m not saying these things in fault-finding accusations or demanding that people stop celebrating Christmas or singing We Three Kings, but rather I’m sharing as a wakeup call to understand how quickly and easily truth can be distorted until it looks totally different. There’s a great article about 8 things many believe after having been taught incorrectly at Christian Publishing House and it even included one I was taught and believed, but nope, there is no archeological or historical evidence of a gate in Jerusalem called “The Eye of the Needle” where camels must be unloaded before they can pass through. Of course, there are way more than 8, but this should stir Christians to seek truth and not just take what they’ve been taught to hear without first using research and prayer to confirm it.
One of my personal issues is found in the statements of faith for almost every church and religion. It’s the oft-repeated phrase “God in three persons,” also used in the song “Holy, Holy, Holy,” which is unsupported by Scripture many times, but especially in Colossians 2:9 where it says…
Colossians 2:9 CSB
[9] For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
https://bible.com/bible/1713/col.2.9.CSB
God does reveal Himself in a triune nature, but only one body (person), and the three are One…
1 John 5:7 KJV
[7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.5.7.KJV
But we would never say “God in three spirits” or “God in three fathers” so why do we say “God in three persons”? And it does matter because there’s a huge difference in “these three are One” and “this One is three.” The latter supports multitheism and can cause those raised in monotheistic religions to refuse to seek the grace and mercy of Christ that Christianity teaches. These three are One being (and in only one human person) does not deny the Tri-Unity/Trinity, but rather defines it according to Scripture. And it makes it even more clear how we are made In His Image since we also have one body, one soul, and one spirit that all dwell fully as one being inside one body. And it clarifies the juxtaposition of the two verses in John 14:16 and John 14:18 where YahShua says He will ask the Father to send The Comforter and then says “I will come to you.”…
John 14:16, 18 KJV
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
(VERSUS)
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.14.16-18.KJV
But somewhere along the line, the spiritual game of Telephone created these and many other mistaken understandings. Too many people are okay to start rumors, like whoever started all the ones about atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair wanting to take religious programming off radio and TV. They later added that Dr. Dobson requested signed petitions to prevent it. And that hoax became so widely circulated that the FCC had to create a special phone number just to deal with calls on that subject. The hoax said they needed 1 million petitions to the FCC, and the FCC said they quit counting when it reached 25 million. That was in 1994. While it’s good that so many Christians are passionate about our religious freedom, this also shows how prominent a lie can become. It was one I also believed many years ago as a new Christian.
Too many are content to believe things at face value when they come from a trusted source. I’ve mentioned in other posts that I believed the Neiman Marcus cookie hoax because I heard it at a Tupperware meeting where I trusted the leadership sources. But every one of us needs to seek truth and guard it when we find it. With AI growing, it’s getting harder to tell real stuff from deep fakes, so all of us must be careful both inside and outside the spiritual realm. I’m beginning to understand how spiritual changes have taken place for so many years, even centuries back when Israelites believed untruths presented by someone with a loud voice or high position. Will you join me in becoming a truth seeker no matter how many waves it creates?
And just to end on a lighter note, I found an article with all kinds of ideas for the Telephone game (also called Chinese Whispers) at https://k12loop.com/hilarious-broken-telephone-game-phrases-prompts/ and that makes me want to play the game again.
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Proverbs 26: Fools, Slackers, Meddlers, Gossips, and Liars
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
We often see the quote, “Hurt people hurt people,” but I’ve never fully agreed with that. From my own experiences, and what I’ve seen in others who experienced hurt, hurt people often become extremely empathetic to the pain of others. They would never cause it intentionally. But a fool doesn’t function that way.
In Psalm 14:1, we read…
Psalms 14:1a WEBUS
[1] The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.14.1.WEBUS
Today’s reading in Proverbs Chapter 26 deals a lot with fools in addition to other types of people who tend to regularly hurt other people. The chapter begins with a sort of what’s wrong with this picture statement…
Proverbs 26:1 WEBUS
[1] Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.1.WEBUS
Though the little kids immediately run to play under the snowing tree in the summertime, the adults are likely confused by this oddity. Snow is a winter thing with maybe a few surprise downpours at the end of fall and beginning of spring. But by the time summer and lemonade show up, it’s definitely not right to have snow–even over only one tree. And it’s not right to give honor and preference to a foolish person, especially with what is likely in their hearts. Verse 8 even tells us what we are like if we’re the one who offers honor to a fool…
Proverbs 26:8 WEBUS
[8] As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.8.WEBUS
It makes sense. What good would a rock tied into a sling do when you need to throw it. Like those old, dangerous toys called “Klick-Klacks” or “Clackers,” (there’s an interesting article about that toy at A Woman’s World magazine online) it’s a recipe for disaster. And it would certainly not help you with hunting–or killing giant Philistines. We must not assign improper honor based on our feelings. Like saying, “God bless you” to a person who would only dig deeper into their sins if they only had blessings and no struggles to make them stop and look at their conditions. It’s not loving to honor and uplift someone who’s stuck in foolishness and needs a jolt of reality to repent and be set free.
Verses 3-12 have so much more to say about fools than I can put here. It’s almost a blog post already created for April 1st. 😁 Verse 11 is the saddest one as it says that a fool never learns…
Proverbs 26:11 WEBUS
[11] As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.11.WEBUS
Verses 13-16 switch subjects and talk about slackers, or sluggards in the World English Bible. And since verse 16 says the slacker is wise in his own eyes, I’m guessing the teacher is showing the slacker is just another type of fool. He then switches subjects again and begins talking about meddlers who (again foolishly) meddle in others’ business and how it’s like grabbing a dog by the ears. We know what happens there. I’m not sure if the joker in verses 18-19 is the same meddler from verse 17, but saying he was only joking doesn’t fix his offenses either way.
As the chapter finishes out with verses 20-28, the subject turns to gossip. It seems this gossip is a contentious liar who hates those he makes into his victims. He is somehow able to convince people to listen (silver-covered lips speaking dainty morsels in verses 22-23), but when things turn on the listener, that one will become even more of a victim because the hateful gossip will convince him it’s all his fault. I see this manipulation as the gossip being yet another type of fool: an arrogant one. But back in verse 20, we get the wisdom that if we just don’t allow the words of the gossip to spread, the quarrels will die like a fire with no fuel.
So this chapter didn’t have a lot of happy blessings to hand out unless you consider warnings that protect you from being victimized as its own type of blessing. I do. And I’m thankful for wisdom that works hand-in-hand with discernment to protect us. Sadly, we often let our feelings get in the way of both discernment and wisdom, but that’s where walking with God helps us get through the hard places in this life, even if we brought them on ourselves. But, there is one huge piece of good news in this chapter, so I’ll end with what it says in verse 2…
Proverbs 26:2 WEBUS
[2] Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.26.2.WEBUS
It seems out of place in this chapter, but it’s a statement of faith to undo the lies and harms of the subjects in all the other verses. Resist even the accusations of foolish ramblings and know their manipulative curses will not be able to stand against you and rest in your life.
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Proverbs 2: The Shadow on Your Path
Proverbs Chapter 1 is all about the purpose of wisdom, and how wisdom can set you up on a right path. Yesterday, I talked about how the right kind of fear of God would open doors to that wisdom. Today, in Proverbs Chapter 2, we’ll read about some of the obstacles found on that path. Visit https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/PRO.2.CSB to read the chapter in the Christian Standard Bible. You can change the version once you’re there if you like.
So what is wisdom worth? Is it all about being smarter? Knowing all the rules? Awareness? Having all the answers? Maybe a little of those, but I believe the best aspect of wisdom is discernment. The definition of that word from Merriam-Webster is “the quality of being able to grasp what is obscure.” A couple synonyms there are insight and perception. Most people either want those things or want to know someone with them, so they can find the answers to obscure questions that escape their grasp. But here in this chapter, the father is assuring his son that if he seeks wisdom like he would seek gold and silver, he will have that grasp when he needs it.
Verses 7 and 8 describe how God stores up success for those on the path of The Lord. They go on to say how God is a shield of protection who will guard that path of justice and protect that way for His followers. Verse 10 says you’ll have discretion for protection and understanding for a guard over you. Or, as the EasyEnglish Bible says, “you will know the right thing to do, and that will keep you safe.” And the reasons for needing all this protection are highlighted in verses 12 through 19 with the warnings to avoid evil people who abandon right paths and especially the forbidden woman who flatters young men to drag them into her house of death.
Now that we are about 3000 years beyond the writing of these words of wisdom, we can take a simple walk through history to see how correct these instructions were and still are. Those who follow the path of the cross of Jesus Christ know how valuable His wisdom is, was, and always will be. He is the shadow on the old paths before Calvary since Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:4b that, “they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.” And His cross is the shadow on our paths now as we follow Him and seek to walk in His ways. Don’t try to be good all on your own. Walk in the shadow of the cross and let it be the shadow on your path of life.
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No Skipping Stones
Skipping Stones by Flickr User iamNigelMorris, CC License = Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works
Click image to open a new tab/window to view the original image and to access the user’s full photo stream at Flickr.
Even if I find the perfect flat rock for stone-skipping, chances are, there will be more splat than skip. I guess it’s all in the wrist, and I don’t have enough of whatever it is. One time, as a teenager, I recall getting one to skip a bunch of times, but that was a rare and wonderful thing.
In today’s reading from Deuteronomy 27:1 through Deuteronomy 27:10, we will read of God’s laws regarding skipping stones. I’ll bet you didn’t know it was in the Bible, but God told Israel not to do it. Really. He told them not to skip setting up standing stones on which He wanted them to record the words of His Torah. (I’ll bet you were wondering just where I was going with that, huh?)
So, Moses and all the leaders of Israel stand before the crowd and tell them to observe every law they were being given that day. To help with the observation, they tell them that, after they cross the Jordan into the land that God is giving them, they are to set up standing stones, put plaster on them, and write the words of Torah on them.
After they set up stones, God wants them to build an altar out of stones and without the use of any tools. His command is that they build the altar of uncut stones and offer burnt offerings on it. They should also offer peace offerings there, and they should eat and be joyful in the presence of The Lord. The next verse restates that they are to write the words of Torah on the stones very clearly.
Next, it is Moses and the high priests that speak to Israel. The first thing they say to them is, “Be quiet and listen, Israel!” They continue with a reminder that today is the day Israel becomes the people of The Lord. Because of that, they should listen to God and obey all the laws and commands Moses gives them on that day.
I wonder how people would react if Scripture actually said we could not skip stones. I mean, it’s not like God would be asking something that difficult, but could we just obey even though it doesn’t seem to make any sense? For me, the hardest thing to do is follow commands that don’t seem to have logic or reasoning behind them. For the sake of obedience, I have done so before, and sometimes it has turned out to be just a man’s interpretation or idea. But, I still believe God rewards an obedient heart and spirit.
God is merciful and He knows our form, so our task is to do our best to honor Him in everything we do and think. He sees when that includes obeying some man-made law because we are told it is required of us. For example, there is at least one church I know of that teaches it is a sin to wear the color red. (I know some Louisville Cardinals fans that would be very upset with that one. 🙂 ) Those who attend there likely follow the rule with their whole hearts because they want to please God, so God will recognize their lawfulness.
Have you given in to things you later found out through spiritual maturity were not necessary? If so, did it make you decide you would never listen again to commands of men? I hope not. I hope you see that God blesses your obedient heart and spirit. I hope, instead, that you use your experiences to gain perspective, and that you seek God’s wisdom to gain discernment. If we do our best, I believe God will lead us in His path as we learn here a little, there a little by seeking Him and studying His word. And if some blogger comes along telling you not to skip stones, pray about it–and then read the rest of the post.
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September 2, 2014 Posted by Crystal A Murray (aka CrystalWriter) | Bible Study, Nonfiction, Torah Commentary | Bible Commentary, Bible study, Complete Jewish Bible, Deuteronomy, discernment, God's law, honoring God, Israel, Moses, obedience, Scripture, skipping stones, Torah commentary, Torah Portions, wisdom | Leave a comment