The Spirit of the Wolf
BY TONY DAVIS & ELISABETH TUNSTALL
INTRODUCTION
The wolf is legendary for its blood curdling howl, fierce gaze and carnivorous appetite. And like the lion and snake, it is also a symbol of the devil. To understand the wolf as a force of evil we must look at how this animal hunts it prey.
WOLF THE PREDATOR
The wolf is considered an apex predator. It hunts in packs that can range from 6 to 10 canines with an alpha male and alpha female leading the group. These creatures do a lot of hunting at night. They are able to hunt at night due to their excellent eyesight. Wolves have a reflective layer behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum that reflects light and helps them see in the dark.
WOLF THE PREDATOR
They have an acute sense of smell that is a 100 times more powerful than human’s. Wolves can also hear sounds up to 6 miles away in a forest and 10 miles away in open land. With the wolves larger, blocky feet and long toes they are well equipped to run on uneven, rough terrain or even through snow. They can run at speeds of 36 to 38 miles per hour for short bursts while chasing prey. Although bursts of maximum speed are short, wolves can maintain pursuit of running after prey for long distances.
WOLF THE PREDATOR
Considering all of these characteristics of the wolf it is not hard to see why this creature would be liken to the devil. Satan is the alpha wolf and the other evil spirits are a part of his pack. The devil has a nocturnal nature like the wolf. He opposes Christ who is the light of the world and thrives in darkness. When we live a life of sin, we live in darkness nor are we able to see clearly. Satan is then able to draw us further and further into sin.
WOLF THE PREDATOR
Walking on Satan’s ground is like uneven terrain where it is easy to slip and stumble. Our feet are not equipped like the devil’s to handle this type of terrain. Satan, like the wolf, has keen senses and can detect the children of God and he knows our weaknesses before we do. And like the wolf, he is relentless with the chase. However, he will not stop chasing us as long as we are in this world. Because Satan is more powerful than us it is important that we are not on his turf, otherwise, we will lose.
FULL ARMOUR OF GOD
Again, we must be armed with the armor of God and stay on the straight and narrow path, where there is light and the terrain is leveled. Ephesians 6: 11-17, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
A scripture that I would like to highlight is in John 10: 11-14, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
The good shepherd as we know is Christ. The people are the sheep. The wolf is of course the devil. Who is the hireling? First, a hireling is defined as a laborer for a wage. Christ describes this hireling as a person who cares nothing for the sheep and will quickly abandon them when danger heads their way.
MODERN DAY HIRELINGS
In this context, our modern day hirelings are the preachers of this world who have spread false doctrine to the people and have become substantially wealthy as a result. They care nothing for the people and their salvation. All they care about is their pocket books. Subsequently, the people are blind to the truth and fall prey to Satan, the wolf.
GOD IS NOT A MAN
That is why we must follow after Christ, not man, for Christ will never deceive us.
Numbers 23: 19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Christ gave his own life for us and he is constantly looking out for his little sheep.
RAVENING WOLVES
The wolf is also used to describe the sons of men for they are just like their father the devil. Matthew 7: 15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
RAVENING WOLVES
What does ravening mean? It means to plunder or take something by force; voraciously devouring; What have the leaders of the churches of this world done?
RAVENING WOLVES
They have taken the truth by force and have mixed it with their own ideologies. They have taken the name of Christ in vain, using his sacred name as a means to market their religion for profit. Isaiah 4: 1, “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”
IN CONCLUSION
So let us be on guard and steer clear of the wolf spirit that resides in the devil and the sons of men. As little sheep, we must stay close to the shepherd, nourishing ourselves on his green pastures and following his voice. Only then, can we be safe from the ravening wolves that lurk in the darkness, seeking to prey upon those that are weak. May God be with you all. Amen.
