Sermon Illustrations

TOUGHER PASTURES

For our own good God will not let us stay too comfortable! As unlikely as it sounds, the birth of a giraffe teaches us a similar lesson.

When a baby giraffe is born it drops 10 feet to the ground and lands on its back. Within seconds, it rolls to an upright position with its legs tucked under its body. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to get take a quick look. Then she positions herself over the baby, waits for about a minute and then, incredibly, swings her leg outward and kicks her baby so that it is sent sprawling head over heels. When it doesn’t get up, the process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is monumental. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts. Finally the calf stands for the first time--and then the mother kicks it off its feet again. Why does the mother persist? Because she knows the giraffe cannot get comfortable; it must stay with the herd for safety. Too many animals enjoy eating young giraffes.

Isn’t that like our life? Just about the time we get comfortable we may get knocked down. It might just be God moving us to tougher pastures--for our own sakes.

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