Before the Fall, There’s a Roar: How to Spot the Attack Before It Hits

It didn’t happen on the battlefield.
There was no army. No crowd.
Just a man. Walking alone. Toward compromise.

And that’s when the lion came.

We’re watching House of David in my men’s group.
At the same time, I’ve been in Judges—reading about Samson.
And something hit me…

David killed a lion.
Samson killed a lion.
And Peter tells us the devil prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

So what’s God trying to show us?

This isn’t just about strength.
This is about survival.

Let’s talk about the fight that starts before the fall.

The Setup: Alone, Vulnerable, and Headed the Wrong Way

Judges 14:5–6.
Samson’s on his way to Timnah—to see a Philistine woman he wasn’t even supposed to be with.

And that’s when a young lion comes roaring toward him.

No crowd.
No armor.
No backup.
Just raw vulnerability.

But then this happens:

Victory, yes.
But this wasn’t just a flex story.
It was a warning.

The enemy doesn’t always attack you when you’re strong.
He waits till you’re alone.
Heading toward something you should’ve turned away from.

What Science Tells Us About Predators

I’ve been watching this Netflix docuseries, Predators.
The episode on lions stood out.

Here’s what they do:
They don’t go after the strongest.
They stalk the slow, the injured, the isolated.

They run up on the herd—not to start a fight—but to look for weakness.
Who’s limping?
Who’s separated?
Who’s distracted?

That’s who gets taken out.

And Peter wasn’t playing when he wrote:

He’s not trying to devour everybody.
He’s looking for the easy kill.

You see the same pattern throughout the Bible again and again:

• Cain was isolated when jealousy grew and God warned him—“sin is crouching at your door” (Genesis 4:7).

• David was idle and alone when he saw Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).

• Judas left the table early and gave the enemy a foothold (John 13:30).

Each moment?
A vulnerability before the violation.
A whisper before the roar.

The Gospel in the Carcass: Honey from What Tried to Kill You

Samson kills the lion.
Moves on.
But later, he walks by the carcass again…

And there’s honey inside.

What tried to kill him—now feeds him.

That’s the gospel.
What wounded you doesn’t get the final word.
Jesus crushed the lion—and left honey in the grave.
Sweetness where there used to be death.
Provision in the place of pain.

God doesn’t just defeat your enemy.
He repurposes the battle.

But Let’s Be Real: It Isn’t Always Satan

Here’s the part we don’t like to admit…

Not every roar comes from hell.

Sometimes it’s just your flesh.

• That craving at midnight?

• That scroll that never ends?

• That DM you shouldn’t answer?

The enemy didn’t even need to whisper.
Your flesh did the talking.

Temptation isn’t just a trap.
It’s our default when discipline slips.

And Satan? He doesn’t need to work that hard.
He just learns your flavor… and brings it to the table.

You might’ve already faced your lion.
Tore it apart.
Moved on.

But don’t get comfortable.

Because the threat doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes it whispers.
Sometimes it smiles.
Sometimes it looks like something soft and sweet.

Just ask Samson.
That lion in the road? He beat it.
But it was Delilah that took him down.

Stay sharp.
Stay submitted.
Stay in the Spirit.

That’s it for today

keep JOY, stay Disciplined