13/05/2024
OF LEOPARDS, IGNORANCE, & OUR IDENTITY...
Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 2
PROVERB CONSIDERED: ““Níbo ló gbé wà?” nìyájú ẹkùn.” (Translation: "[To ask] ‘Where is it?’ is a great insult to the leopard.")
REFLECTION
To put the proverb in context, imagine yourself in one of Kenya’s national parks. Your son has been looking forward to seeing his favourite animal—the leopard—up close in the wild. As your tour guide drove you around from place to place across the park showcasing various animals to you, you finally arrived at a vast expanse of grassland where you could see an animal with black spots as well as a lion and a black rhino. Your tour guide tells you, “Look over there! That’s the leopard.” You looked. You saw the lion, the rhino, and the other animal covered in black spots, but still, you asked, “Where is it? Where is the leopard?”
The proverb we considered in this episode says, for you to ask such a question is an insult to the leopard! What kind of person would not be able to tell which is the leopard among a lion, a rhino, and a spotted animal? If the leopard could understand your language and heard you ask such a dumb question, it would probably teach you a lesson! Indeed, the leopard is a rather unmistakable creature in the wild, isn't it? That's the point of this proverb—one should be knowledgeable enough to avoid displaying ignorance about things they should know.
But sometimes, in life, we do the exact opposite. We speak or choose to think in ways that reveal our ignorance! In our biblical reflection on this proverb, we offer two distinct interpretations of the proverb:
1. Living as a Christian and reflecting God's presence:
Anu applies the proverb to the concept of Christian identity. Relating it to Romans 8:16 and 2 Timothy 2:4, she emphasises the importance of Christians embodying their faith in all aspects of life. Christians, like leopards, should be easily identifiable in any sphere they find themselves in. They shouldn't need to camouflage or compromise their identity to fit in. This perspective underscores the significance of living a life that reflects the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. Awakening from Ignorance:
Joseph takes a different approach. He sees the proverb as a way to highlight someone's ignorance. Asking "where is it?" about something obvious is a way to point out a lack of awareness. He connects this to the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, who forgot God's role in his achievements (Daniel 4:29-35). This serves as a caution against the human tendency to take credit for God's work, thereby diminishing His glory. This should prompt us to consider our own actions and speech, ensuring that we never rob God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.
Furthermore, the episode highlights the subtle attacks on our faith, whether through external challenges or internal complacency. The devil will always seek to downplay the importance of faith for us in times of comfort or difficulty. However, a strong Christian identity, rooted in the knowledge of God, allows one to resist such temptations. “. . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)
Anu's reminder to hold onto the truth of our identity as children of God, as affirmed by the Spirit, is both comforting and empowering. In the face of such attacks, there's no need to engage in futile arguments or attempts to prove our faith. Instead, we can find solace in the knowledge of whose we are.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
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