Lion kill in Tarangire

We were missionaries for the Missionary Board of the Church of God (now Global Missions) in East Africa. We lived at Kaiti Mission on the Great North Road, about two hours Southwest of Arusha, Tanzania. We took a day off from the mis­sion and headed for Tarangire National Park, a wildlife refuge, where large numbers of wild animals lived and no hunting was allowed. From people we met on the road we had heard a pride of Lions had killed a Zebra and if we went quickly, we would be able to see them.

Sure enough, we went the direction indicated and saw a huge flock of buzzards circling overhead—a sure sign of a lion kill. Buzzards circle hoping to get a free meal but they can't land until the lions are finished and gone—otherwise, they become a free meal for the lions.

We arrived to see several beautiful lions. One large male was in charge of several female lions, and a few half-grown lion cubs. The scene included the half-eaten remains of a zebra.  We drove to within a few feet of the pride and began taking pictures. They had seen enough cars to not be afraid, however when I drove a little too close to get a better angle for a picture, the grand-daddy lion grunted and stood up. He walked to the zebra, took it by the neck with his teeth and pulled it farther away from the Land Rover and stood with front feet planted on each side of the zebra, watching as I took his picture—daring me to get out of the car and try to get his ze­bra.

The lions appeared to be perfectly tame, but I knew the peaceful scene was misleading. If I had tried to get out of the car, it would have been my carcass he was drag­ging around by the neck and I would be their next meal. After the Lions finished with me, they would leave my skeleton for the birds to pick clean, then the Hyenas would come, break my bones and suck the marrow out. Within about a day there would scarcely be enough evidence to know I had ever existed.

The peaceful scene we witnessed was totally deceptive because those lions were extremely dangerous. (Just ask the zebra.) The Apostle Peter knew what he was talking about when he said Satan is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Satan wants us to think he is as tame as those lions appeared to be—that we can mess around with sin and not be affected. He tries to make us think we can live in his world and not be hurt, but you can be certain, he will devour us if we give him half a chance. The only protection we have is salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. We can ei­ther depend on him as Savior or be eternally devoured by Sa­tan. That’s the worst kind of lion kill.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.