Charming…Appealing…Cunning…Sly.
Foxes aren’t dangerous to humans, unless they are rabid, or unless handled or captured.
This information is what I found when I searched out attributes of a fox. What prompted this research, you may ask? Some reading I was doing in Luke 14 brought me across a couple verses in which Jesus referred to Herod as a “fox”. I started digging around the Bible further, and this is what the Holy Spirit taught me:
The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Luke 14:31-32
Why did Jesus refer to Herod as a fox? Read on…
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing…And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luke 23:8-9,11
Use caution around a “fox”!
Here are some ways we can identify the cunning “foxes” in our lives, based on Jesus’ encounter with Herod:
- A fox may look and act the part of a Christian!
Herod was glad to be in the presence of Jesus, he wanted to see Christ perform miracles. There are foxes sitting in our churches today! They want to see what the hype is about, or they feel as though they are doing good by being in the “right place”. - A fox may sound knowledgeable.
Herod ‘questioned with him in many words’, he likely knew prophetic history and Jewish custom and law. Foxes in our lives may even be able to quote scripture. - A fox can turn in a moment!
Herod went from having a conversation with Christ, and being excited for his arrival, to mocking him two verses later. Use discretion when choosing friends – even in the Church! Judge every man according to his works, and be sure you aren’t setting yourself up for heartbreak, or the loss of your testimony. - A fox can have a disastrous impact on your life.
Herod mocked Jesus, dressed him in a beautiful robe, and sent him to Pilate, which led to his crucifixion. When we get entangled with sly foxes we may find ourselves in situations we’ll wish we had avoided.
How to avoid getting entangled with a fox:
There is a verse in Romans that tells us to mark those which cause division and offences among the brethren. (Romans 16:17) This verse refers to those individuals who are often openly and obviously sinful, or who distract you from the will of God. Foxes tend to be a little more subtle, and you may have to pray for God to reveal to you the foxes he would have you avoid.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Ezekiel 13:1-5
We need to stay busy in the Lord’s work. Read, study, and pray through the scripture. Don’t be foolish, and think you can handle this life on your own and just “figure things out”. Be faithful to God. Live a clean life (confess sin regularly). Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8), and show you who and what to avoid in your life, so you don’t get entangled with a cunning fox!
