🎵Aesop’s Fables Month: The Four Oxen and the Lion 🐂🦁
by Crystal A Murray (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Patriotic Unity from a Devastating Attack
Twenty-five years ago, it wasn’t called “Patriot’s Day.” It was just another day on the calendar in a time when summer was ending and the cooling of autumn was on the way. I was at home taking a solitaire break from my tech school homework, so I didn’t have the TV on. My brother-in-law called from Texas to ask if I knew what was happening and where his brother was at. He was frantic, and I could barely make out something about the Pentagon (I think he said it was bombed) through his tearful voice. When I finally figured out what he said and everything that had just happened, my fears began to bubble up to overflowing. See, both my hubby and his brother were soldiers, so attacks on US soil were acts of war that could mean they’d be called to active fighting zones.
Hubby called from the base when he could and told me to cancel any upcoming medical appointments if they weren’t urgent because gates were going into hard lockdowns. The days were surreal as I heard stories of stranded travelers, and I didn’t hear the noises of overhead aircraft that were normal with a house near an airport. My night classes were unusually still and quiet as people tried to figure out how to talk about the attacks and what it meant for our future.
I don’t recall exactly how long we lived with baited breath, but everything changed with the events on September 11th, 2001, and I don’t believe they have ever gone back fully to what they were before that.
But some good changes came to pass in the aftermath. Mainly, patriotism got a wakeup call. People who were occupied by the division being sown by recent demands for political correctness in the months before 9/11 now became focused on what it meant to unify our country instead. We began to look at news from around the world instead of only in our small worlds because we didn’t want to be surprised like that again. People were ready to fight for the USA and against anyone who declared themselves enemies far more than they were with the first attack eight years earlier when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. And though the unity did not last in everyone, it definitely became stronger than before. Most don’t want to see us going to war, but they’d still be comforted to know we have patriots who love our country with enough passion to fight for it.
The Classic Fable Retold—In 3 Parts
Recorded in ancient collections as Perry Index No. 372, this timeless fable illustrates the foundational truth behind an enduring American rallying cry: United we stand, divided we fall.
Part 1: The Circle of Defense
In a lush, sun-drenched pasture, four oxen graze in unbroken fellowship. From the edge of the distant timberline, a lean, famished lion watches their every move, desperate for an opening. Yet whenever the predator creeps forward, the four companions move as one. Standing rump-to-rump in a tight, impenetrable ring, they lower their massive heads and present an unbroken wall of outward-facing horns to the wilderness. Starving and frustrated, the prowling beast dares not strike, knowing a frontal charge against such unified strength means certain defeat.
Part 2: The Whispered Discord
Realizing brute force cannot pierce their fellowship, the cunning lion abandons direct assault for subtle treachery. Lingering just out of reach, he begins sowing quiet suspicion and jealousy among the herd. He whispers deceit into the ear of one that the others take the finest grass, while feeding pride in another that his companions take his strength for granted. Soon, distrust festers. The defensive ring dissolves as bitter arguments flare, and each proud ox turns his back on his brothers to graze alone in an isolated corner of the field.
Part 3: The Fallen Solitude
With their mutual defense shattered, the lion’s hour arrives. Slinking across the pasture without fear, the beast hunts them down one by one. Trapped against the rocky outcrops with no brothers to guard their flanks and no outward-facing horns to unite against the common foe, every solitary beast is easily overwhelmed. The pasture that once flourished under mutual protection falls silent in the dust of defeat.
The Spiritual Blueprint of Unity
The tragedy in the pasture mirrors the spiritual battles we navigate every day—both as a nation and within the household of faith. Scripture lays out an unmistakable three-part arc regarding the strength, preservation, and vulnerability of our fellowship:
1. The Sacred Design: The Beauty of the Circle
“1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”
— Psalm 133:1 (B.S.B.)
God never designed us to face the wilderness alone. True community is not merely pleasant; it is our primary earthly defense against destruction.
When we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, guarding one another’s blind spots and pooling our strength, an outward enemy has no point of entry. In the wake of national tragedy twenty-five years ago, we need the raw power of this circle, letting petty squabbles vanish as we lock arms beneath one flag. In the church, we must also lock arms beneath the banner of God’s Holy Word—the whole Word applied as written.
2. The Daily Practice: Guarding Against the Whisper
“8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
— 1 Peter 3:8 (B.S.B.)
An impenetrable defense cannot be taken by an external strike; it can only be betrayed from within. Knowing this, Peter urges believers to maintain the exact heart posture required to resist division.
The lion broke the oxen not with claws, but with whispers that stoked self-importance and suspicion. Humility, sympathy, and tenderhearted compassion are the spiritual armor that keeps our circle intact. The moment we prioritize being “right” or nurse personal grudges, we open the gate to discord.
3. The Sober Warning: The Prowling Predator
“8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8 (B.S.B.)
When pride separates us from fellowship and unity of purpose, we become prime targets for the enemy.
The adversary rarely assaults a united body; he waits patiently in the shadows for someone to wander off alone. Isolation is the predator’s hunting ground. As we honor the memory of that fateful September morning and the resilience that rose from its ashes, let us remember that our greatest strength lies in refusing the whispers of division. Let us be found standing firm, vigilant, and undivided in faith and love.
Where Were You?
In the days following September 11th, our nation was bound together by shared grief, profound quiet, and a sudden clarity about what truly mattered. Alan Jackson captured that universal stillness and the enduring power of faith, hope, and love with his poignant anthem, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”:
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Look and See How Good it Can Be
When I worshipped in a Messianic congregation, one of my favorite songs to learn was called Hineh Ma Tov. It was built on words from this verse in Psalm 133:1.
Psalms 133:1 WEBUS
[1] See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.133.1.WEBUS
So what happens when people do not live together in unity? My suggested emoji after that sentence was a sad, crying emoji like this 😭. But my last word was unity, and I didn’t say anything in the sentence that could lead my keyboard to think I was talking about something sad. Right? Or is even a keyboard smarter than many humans to know the end result of refusing to look for unity?
But I digress; I was only going to talk about the not-so-pleasant and not-so-wonderful effects of division. Chaos, anger, and jealousy, are just a few of the effects that go with not being on the same page. But THAT is really the problem. No ONE page that everyone can stand on together to allow the unity. Unity without a foundation is simply an illusion.
When the psalmist speaks in this chapter, the pleasant things he describes include the oil dripping from Aaron’s beard. That is pleasant to him because that oil is from a time of anointing to do priestly works for God Almighty. The priesthood was originally created and ordained by Yahveh as part of His mercy and grace to cover the sins of mankind. And if the priest was being ordained, it meant the law was being followed.
Law is a blessing! Think of this: When you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, and you have a green light, the law that makes cross traffic stop and let you through will benefit you more than chaos at the intersection. But all it takes is one person who spurns the law and wants to do things their own way to mess up everyone’s day.
God put law in our hearts, and all it took was one evil tempter challenging God’s way of doing things to create chaos for every human for the rest of time. At least until time stops counting because we move into eternity. So what would happen if all of mankind decided to look and see how good it would be to follow God’s way? We would be in unity, and behold how wonderful and pleasant it would be.
And here’s a video and lyrics with Paul Wilbur singing Hineh Ma Tov…
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When Good Gifts Go Bad
The last half of today’s reading from Genesis 11:1-32 is the genealogy of Shem, the oldest son of Noah. But before we get to that point, we get to hear a story about good gifts being used for the wrong purposes. The key verse here is Genesis 11:4 where it says, “Then they said, ‘Come, let’s build ourselves a city with a tower that has its top reaching up into heaven, so that we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered all over the earth.’ ” The rest of the story is the familiar tale of “The Tower of Babel” (aka “The Tower of Confusion”) where God confused their languages, so they could no longer work together to create things for their own name.
In this story, God has given men the whole earth and all they need to create a life for themselves. He has given them language to communicate with each other. He has given them bricks and mortar to build shelters for themselves. He was their Ultimate Provider then just as He is our Ultimate Provider now. But they forgot that even when they had to work for something, It was God who created the ability to work and the products to work with or from.
With all those gifts, including the gift of unity that was so strong even God said it could make nothing impossible for those who worked together, where do you hear any words of praise echoed to God, or any thoughts of working with His will or plans? You don’t. Instead, these men took God’s provisions as their own, built with them according to their own will, and then used them to make a name for themselves as if it were all their own from start to finish. They forgot that God is the Author and Finisher. They failed to realize that unless The Lord builds the house, all labor is in vain. (See Psalm 127:1.) They allowed the fear of being scattered to overtake them rather than asking God where He would have them to go. They let all the good gifts of God end up being used for selfish, prideful, fearful, and other bad reasons.
Today, there are many gifted people doing the same with the gifts God has given them. They become haughty and act as if the world cannot live without their gift of entertainment or prophecy. If something they have to offer is that important, it’s even more important that they keep it in line with God’s perfect will. Even our faith must be an act of obedience, so if we’re obeying our Creator, where do we get bragging rights? I pray frequently that God will keep me in check when someone positively comments on something I have done–be it singing and writing or helping and encouraging. I know I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, and I also know I can do nothing apart from Him. I know that, even when I am doing His will and accomplishing things through Him, it is only by His grace. According to His word, even my desire to serve Him is from Him. Philippians 2:13 in the Easy-To-Read version states it this way: Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it. So, there is nothing to boast in except Him. May we always keep that perspective that none of the wonderful gifts He pours out on us will go bad.
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Brothers United
Today we get to see what Jacob will do differently after meeting God face to face. It’s a short reading from Genesis 32:31 through Genesis 33:5, and it starts out with Jacob naming the place of his wrestling Peniel meaning “The Face of God.” He so named it because he had met Yahveh Almighty face to face and lived to tell about it.
But something more than Jacob’s name changed during his encounter; something even more than the limp he walked away with from the touch to his hip muscle. As we continue in the reading, we find Jacob setting out again toward his brother, Esau, knowing that he was still going to meet both him and the 400 men he had with him. But where Jacob was previously hiding behind all the other groups, now we see Jacob pushing his wives and slave girls and children behind him and racing in front of them despite the possibility of dangerous consequences. Jacob had somehow gained confidence, and it would seem he trusted God to answer his prayer to be reunited with his brother as family instead of as an enemy.
When Jacob saw Esau, he fell on the ground and bowed before him. When Esau saw Jacob, he ran to him and hugged him and wept on his neck. They were more than reunited, they were united like they had never been since birth, and maybe even since growing together in Rebekah’s womb. And when Esau asked about the women and children who were walking behind his brother, Jacob humbly acknowledged that they were gifts of God. In the Complete Jewish Bible, Jacob answered, “The children God has graciously given to your servant.” Jacob was truly no longer a supplanter, but was happy to see Esau as not only his brother, but as his older brother to whom he owed respect.
P.S. NaNo has been slow going of late, but I am at 24,319. Also, I just remembered today about a video by ApologetiX that uses the song “Takin’ Care of Business” and turns it into “Jacob’s Name is Israel.” I’ll be adding it to yesterday’s blog after I post today’s.
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November 18, 2013 Posted by Crystal A Murray (aka CrystalWriter) | Bible Study, Nonfiction, Torah Commentary | Adonai, Almighty, Bible, Bible Gateway, Bible reading, Bible study, brother, Complete Jewish Bible, Creator, crystalwriter, Esau, family, Genesis, God, Holy Bible, humble, Jacob, Lord, Old Covenant, Old Testament, Parashah, Portions, Scripture, servant, The Complete Jewish Bible, Torah, Torah commentary, Torah Portions, Torah Reading, united, unity, Word, Word of God, Word of the Lord, www.biblegateway.com, Yahveh, Yahweh | Leave a comment