In A. A. Milne’s series “Winnie the Pooh,” to whom did Pooh and his friends seek counsel whenever they encountered a mystery? When Christopher Robin was not available, was missing, or could not be found, to whom did Pooh go for advice and wisdom? He went to his friend, Owl. Owl’s species would be that of the great horned owl, to be specific. Great horned owls were among the unclean animals that the Israelites were forbidden to eat according to the lists found in Leviticus 11:17 and Deuteronomy 14:16.
Why weren’t the Israelites supposed to eat owls, such as “the great owl” and “the horned owl?” What do the [great] horned owls represent? Although great horned owls do not have literal “horns,” what do horns represent in the Bible? In passages such as Daniel 7-8, “horns” represent “kings,” having to do with leadership, authority, and influence. Where are the horns of an animal located? They are found on the head. Just as a king’s crown upon his head shows who is in charge of the kingdom, horns are like the “hat” or “crown” upon an animal's head that can be used to symbolize authority.
The length of an animal’s horns is usually an indication of how mature that animal might be. The horns or antlers on an animal can show what season [of life] that animal is going through. Horns can give the seasoned naturalist an idea of the animal’s life experiences or stage in development. Did it lose an antler in a battle? How old is this animal? The length and condition of the horns might give clues.
The Greek goddess Athena was referred to as “the goddess of wisdom” and is associated with an owl throughout Greek mythology (1). What do owls represent biblically? Could owls likewise represent human wisdom (apart from God) throughout the Ancient Writings of the Bible? If so, then what might God have been communicating to His chosen people when he told them not to eat owls?
“You may eat any clean bird. But…you shall not eat…the owl…” (see Deuteronomy 14:11-20 NASB1995). What is the application God was trying to communicate to His chosen people? Don’t rely upon mere human wisdom. He who trusts in his own mind [or heart] is a fool. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is found through Jesus Christ and His words that give truth, life, and revelation light. See Matthew 7:24-29; Proverbs 1:5-7; 3:5-8; 28:26; John 6:53; Psalm 119:105, 130; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
Interestingly, whenever Winnie the Pooh sought wisdom from his friend, Owl, he often ended up on a hopeless misadventure where he and his companions ended up lost in the woods, confused, and/or in some kind of literal or metaphorical pit. Owl was seen as an expert, and Pooh and his friends trusted him as an authority who knew what he was talking about.
In Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” movie, Christopher Robin left Pooh a message that he had gone somewhere but that he would be “back soon.” Pooh took that message to Owl, who interpreted the message as follows: Christopher Robin had been captured by a monster called the “Backson.” Pooh and his friends then sought to go into the woods to rescue Christopher Robin, dug a pit to trap the Backson, and got trapped in the pit themselves. After they escaped from the pit and found Christopher Robin, the author himself informed Pooh what his message had really meant. (2)
That Pooh and his friends fell into a pit brings a reminder to something that Jesus said:
“Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
--Matthew 15:12-15 NASB1995
In this passage, Jesus compared a group of the theologians of his day to “blind guides of the blind.” These theologians were offended at Jesus’ teachings about healing, defilement, sin, moral cleansing, good hygiene, religious tradition, God’s commandments, true worship, repentance, etc. Jesus referred to them as “blind guides of the blind” who would “fall into a pit” along with those who follow their leadership.
Just as Winnie the Pooh and his friends fell into a pit as they trusted Owl’s interpretation of Christopher Robin’s message, so also does mere human wisdom apart from the Spirit of God result in spiritual entrapment and stumbling. By relying on human wisdom or man’s opinion rather than the Author of the Bible Himself, we too get ourselves lost, confused, and entrapped in all kinds of ways.
Just like Winnie the Pooh got himself lost, confused, and trapped by listening to Owl’s respected opinion, man-made wisdom and even some expert’s interpretations of the Bible likewise can backfire on us. That doesn’t mean that a respected theologian is always wrong in his interpretation of the Bible, but this serves as a sober reminder that man’s wisdom can never compare to the wisdom and knowledge of the Author of the Word Himself.
Just as Christopher Robin could tell Pooh exactly what He meant, engaging with the Author of the Bible through a personal relationship with Him trumps the theological opinions of man whenever their esteemed opinion contradicts what the Word is actually saying in its entire context. See 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16.
So don’t feed on man’s opinion just because a trusted theological expert says so. Be a “Berean” and think for yourself as you fellowship with the Author Himself. See Acts 17:10-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3; Psalm 1:1-3; John 8:31-32. Then you can test and verify if what the expert says matches up. Then we will not be blown here and there by every wind of teaching. See Ephesians 4:14. (3)
In other words, metaphorically speaking, “Don’t eat great horned owls.” Don’t idolize your favorite theologian or pastor above Jesus Himself and His own words. Pride comes before a fall, and idols must eventually be trampled upon, so it does a disfavor to those pastors, theologians, famous people, renowned experts in various fields, or celebrities if we put them on a pedestal upon which they were never meant to be placed.
Athens, the city named after the goddess Athena, was filled with citizens and visitors who treasured human wisdom and reason very highly. They would spend their time hearing and discussing all the newest ideas, engaging in intellectual discourse. When the ancient apostle, Paul, visited this city, he was distressed to see that the city was full of idols. In other words, the people were believing, relying upon, and inordinately treasuring many things and ideas that would ultimately result in the demise of their health, happiness, relationships, and even their eternity apart from God. See Acts 17:16ff.
After Paul reasoned with the people of Athens about why a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus was the very reason they existed and how they could experience God’s love and wonderful plan for their lives, Paul moved on to the city of Corinth. Later on, in his letter to the Corinthian believers in Jesus, Paul wrote the following:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
--1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NKJV
To learn more about some of my personal journey when it comes to being taught by God through His word like a “Berean” (see Acts 17:10ff) rather than relying upon mere human wisdom and opinion, see my post “Envy is Like a Viper.”
To discover more reasons why a personal relationship with Jesus could be the very thing for which you exist, see “Four Spiritual Laws for Healing a Broken Heart.”
https://sites.google.com/site/goddessanimals/athena-and-the-owl.
This principle applies to reading anything that I myself write on this blog! Regarding any topic, don’t simply take my word for it, but examine the Scriptures for yourself and ask God to reveal Himself through His Word.
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