Lambs in the midst of Wolves
Sep 09, 2025 by Addison Crissone
In the gospel of Luke, in chapter ten, Jesus sends out the seventy-two, two by two. Before sending them on their way, Jesus gives them a warning.
"Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves," (v.3).
Lambs in the midst of wolves.
A meek, lowly, helpless creature in the presence of ferocious, ravenous, destructive enemies.
That is what we are.
We are lambs in the midst of wolves.
My first thought for this was, "I need to be a lamb in the presence of evil."
In the presence of wolves.
Wolves snatch away.
They steal.
They scatter.
They do not spare.
They are destructive. Deceptive.
They devastate.
However, as I reflected on the distinct character profiles of these two animals used by Jesus to illustrate his people and the world, I recalled something. Throughout Scripture, we humans are often identified as lambs.
Lambs are harassed.
They are helpless.
Prone to wander.
Easily led astray.
Often silent in the face of adversity.
My friends, this is who we are. Jesus never told us to become like lambs, but that we were already one by nature.
He did, however, tell us to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," (Matt. 10:16).
Wise as Serpents. Innocent as Doves.
We are to be shrewd and wise when it comes to the tactics of the world, and yet innocent in such a way that we are not a part of the world's tactics and ways.
For we are still, in our heart of hearts, a helpless lamb in the midst of wolves.
In these words, "I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves," Jesus is not telling us that he has carried us this far or that long, and is now going to let us have a go at it on our own. No, I believe that this warning was meant to prepare us for the battle ahead, for those moments when we are weak and so terribly helpless, for those times when we stray and wander too far away from the sheepfold. They were also meant to serve us as a reminder that we will suffer for Him- whether that be through trial and tribulation, or death itself. We will not always lead lives of leisure and pleasure. There will be days when we must face the wolves —the wolves of society, ridicule, and persecution, and the wolves of the devil.
Because we are lambs in the midst of wolves.
"Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves," (v.3).
Lambs in the midst of wolves.
A meek, lowly, helpless creature in the presence of ferocious, ravenous, destructive enemies.
That is what we are.
We are lambs in the midst of wolves.
My first thought for this was, "I need to be a lamb in the presence of evil."
In the presence of wolves.
Wolves snatch away.
They steal.
They scatter.
They do not spare.
They are destructive. Deceptive.
They devastate.
However, as I reflected on the distinct character profiles of these two animals used by Jesus to illustrate his people and the world, I recalled something. Throughout Scripture, we humans are often identified as lambs.
Lambs are harassed.
They are helpless.
Prone to wander.
Easily led astray.
Often silent in the face of adversity.
My friends, this is who we are. Jesus never told us to become like lambs, but that we were already one by nature.
He did, however, tell us to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," (Matt. 10:16).
Wise as Serpents. Innocent as Doves.
We are to be shrewd and wise when it comes to the tactics of the world, and yet innocent in such a way that we are not a part of the world's tactics and ways.
For we are still, in our heart of hearts, a helpless lamb in the midst of wolves.
In these words, "I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves," Jesus is not telling us that he has carried us this far or that long, and is now going to let us have a go at it on our own. No, I believe that this warning was meant to prepare us for the battle ahead, for those moments when we are weak and so terribly helpless, for those times when we stray and wander too far away from the sheepfold. They were also meant to serve us as a reminder that we will suffer for Him- whether that be through trial and tribulation, or death itself. We will not always lead lives of leisure and pleasure. There will be days when we must face the wolves —the wolves of society, ridicule, and persecution, and the wolves of the devil.
Because we are lambs in the midst of wolves.
