The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord , like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. (Micah 5:7-8 NIV, 6-22-13)

Interesting juxtaposition. Be like dew. Be like a lion.

Both images have one same underlying concept. Though the people of Israel will be dispersed among the nations, the nations will not control them, no more than dew can be controlled. Or lions.

But the images used to express that truth could not be more different. Dew is helpful and healing and beneficial and life-giving. Wild lions, on the other hand, are destructive agents of death and judgment.

And complicating things is that we are compared to both. We are sojourners, exiles, living in a land that is not our own among strangers. But are we to be dew or lions?

Yes. We are God’s refreshing grace and God’s prophets of His difficult truths. Always both. Never, ever neither.

[Father, help me to be your dew and your lion.]