ALONG THE BORDER OF BOTSWANA in South Africa, our experienced ranger, Brad, brought, the open Land Rover very close to some elephants. My wife and I had been viewing an endless variety of beautiful wildlife. Suddenly the matriarch's flapping ears told us to leave—immediately! As we moved out, she was right on our heels and chased us down the trail. After a while we outran her and stopped to discuss our close encounter. Suddenly she exploded into view right behind us, and off we went again!
Each day we were mingling with everything from Cape buffalo, rhinos, giraffes, to lions, baboons, zebras, black mambas, and a rich array of exotic birds as we drove through this wild part of the world. Another day in another area brought a striking view again of elephants. And again, very soon the matriarch's ears were up and she was charging. I glanced at Brad to see if his hand was on the keys (or his rifle!). The terrain this time would not allow a speedy escape. It was a tense moment. Suddenly Brad began yelling and slamming his hand on the side of the door. She was up pretty close and personal by then, but abruptly came to a halt. This provided the occasion for us to move down the trail. Later Brad said speeding away wasn't an option this time. He felt it was the same elephant and that it was time to teach her we weren't afraid and wouldn't be bullied by aggressiveness.
The incident itself taught a useful lesson. Have you ever considered making so much "spiritual noise" that it would arrest a threatening situation? A persistent physical problem? A dispute with someone? A looming financial challenge? In one sense, frightening events have their own kind of noise. Will we back down or stand up to what can seem pretty aggressive? The Psalmist said, "The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea" (Ps. 93:4). And he urged us, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise" (Ps. 98:4).
