the lion and the mouse an ancient story from the panchatantra

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The Lion and the The Lion and the Mouse Mouse An ancient story from the An ancient story from the Panchatantra Panchatantra

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Page 1: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

The Lion and the MouseThe Lion and the Mouse

An ancient story from the An ancient story from the PanchatantraPanchatantra

Page 2: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

Once there lived a lion in his den deep in the forest. A Once there lived a lion in his den deep in the forest. A mouse made his home in it as well. One day the lion mouse made his home in it as well. One day the lion felt tired and fell asleep. The mouse came out of his felt tired and fell asleep. The mouse came out of his

hole. He was in a playful mood. He came into the den. hole. He was in a playful mood. He came into the den. He climbed on the lion and danced on his back. He He climbed on the lion and danced on his back. He

danced with great joy.danced with great joy. The lion’s sleep was The lion’s sleep was

disturbed and he disturbed and he woke up. He saw the woke up. He saw the mouse and he mouse and he became angry. The became angry. The lion roared “ I’ll kill lion roared “ I’ll kill you”. The mouse you”. The mouse was frightened. was frightened. What could he do?What could he do?

Page 3: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

The mouse begged the lion, “Have mercy on me and The mouse begged the lion, “Have mercy on me and spare my life”. “If you leave me alive I will repay you spare my life”. “If you leave me alive I will repay you

someday in the future”, he exclaimed.someday in the future”, he exclaimed.

Page 4: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

The lion said to himself, “The mouse is a tiny weak The lion said to himself, “The mouse is a tiny weak creature, how can he repay me? However the Lion took creature, how can he repay me? However the Lion took pity on the mouse and let him go. He forgot everything pity on the mouse and let him go. He forgot everything

about the mouse.about the mouse.

Page 5: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

A few months A few months later, a hunter later, a hunter spread his net to spread his net to catch the Lion. catch the Lion. The lion was The lion was caught in the net. caught in the net. He was afraid for He was afraid for his life. He tried his life. He tried his best to get free his best to get free but all his efforts but all his efforts were in vain. He were in vain. He roared loudly for roared loudly for help. Who could help. Who could save his life? Who save his life? Who do you think came do you think came to save the Lion?to save the Lion?

Page 6: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

You are right. It was the tiny mouse. The mouse You are right. It was the tiny mouse. The mouse nibbled his way through the net and in a short time the nibbled his way through the net and in a short time the Lion was free. The Lion thanked the mouse for saving Lion was free. The Lion thanked the mouse for saving his life. He said to himself, “We should show mercy to his life. He said to himself, “We should show mercy to

all. Even small creatures are helpful”.all. Even small creatures are helpful”.

Page 7: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

The moral of this story is;The moral of this story is;

Mercy is a great virtue.Mercy is a great virtue. Do not despise small things because Do not despise small things because

one day they may be great.one day they may be great. Do not despise people of low status in Do not despise people of low status in

our society because one day they may our society because one day they may have the power to help you.have the power to help you.

Page 8: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

What Biblical truth can we learn What Biblical truth can we learn from this story?from this story?

Psalm 75 verse 6-7Psalm 75 verse 6-7 ““Promotion comes Promotion comes

neither from the east or neither from the east or the west or the desert; the west or the desert; God exalts a person of God exalts a person of no status and he no status and he humbles another humbles another important person”. important person”.

““Be careful, pride Be careful, pride comes before a fall. God comes before a fall. God resists the proud and resists the proud and blesses the humble”. blesses the humble”. James 4 verse 6.James 4 verse 6.

The Lion is like God. The Lion is like God. The Lion had mercy on The Lion had mercy on the mouse. God is the the mouse. God is the King of Kings and the King of Kings and the Lion is the King of the Lion is the King of the beasts. Both have great beasts. Both have great power in their realms. power in their realms. They chose to exercise They chose to exercise mercy rather than great mercy rather than great power. Eph 2 v 4 “God power. Eph 2 v 4 “God is rich in mercy because is rich in mercy because of His great love for of His great love for us”.us”.

Page 9: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

We can be like the Lion or the mouseWe can be like the Lion or the mouse

The Lion.The Lion. When we have the When we have the

opportunity to exercise opportunity to exercise power, let us use it with power, let us use it with mercy.mercy.

When we have the When we have the opportunity to pass opportunity to pass judgement according to judgement according to the law let us exercise the law let us exercise mercy. mercy.

The Mouse.The Mouse. Although we are small Although we are small

we can help our leaders we can help our leaders by doing the small by doing the small things that set them free things that set them free to be great leaders.to be great leaders.

Every little bit we that is Every little bit we that is in our power to do, will in our power to do, will help be a blessing to the help be a blessing to the life of someone else.life of someone else.

Page 10: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

The truths of this simple story are The truths of this simple story are consistent with Kingdom values.consistent with Kingdom values.

This story is a story Jesus This story is a story Jesus could have told about the could have told about the Kingdom of God.Kingdom of God.

It contains truths about the It contains truths about the Kingdom of God.Kingdom of God.

We are commanded to teach We are commanded to teach the truths of the Kingdom of the truths of the Kingdom of God to all people God to all people everywhere.everywhere.

We must communicate in a We must communicate in a way they understand.way they understand.

The truths of the kingdom in The truths of the kingdom in this story are; this story are;

1. Mercy is a greater virtue 1. Mercy is a greater virtue than judgement.than judgement.

2. The least in the kingdom of 2. The least in the kingdom of God can be the greatest.God can be the greatest.

3. We need each other whether 3. We need each other whether great or small in God’s great or small in God’s work.work.

4. We are the Body of Christ 4. We are the Body of Christ and we should help each and we should help each other as we have needs.other as we have needs.

Page 11: The Lion and the Mouse An ancient story from the Panchatantra

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

““Panchatantra” published by Adarsh Books, Panchatantra” published by Adarsh Books, New Delhi, India, 2003.New Delhi, India, 2003.