Several species of birds, fish and animals can puff themselves up to a bigger size, to create a more intimidating look. Animals or birds inflate with air while sea creatures do so with water. This serves them well to appear more formidable to would-be predators.
The one I find more interesting is the Siamang (a type of gibbon, which is an ape. They are an endangered species found in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.) According to an AI overview, these Siamang can
"inflate their throat sac to the size of their head, using this as a vocal display and a threat display."
One of the greatest threats to these Siamangs is perpetrated by human beings as they clear habitat land for growing palm oil plantations. Sadly, their intimidation tactics don't work very well against human beings.
The point here though is that there are bullies who puff themselves up to threaten others, to manipulate them into subservience in order to accomplish what the perpetrator wants. Supervisors or bosses may yell at laborers to goad them into working harder or faster. School teachers may carry a rattan stick and scream at the students. A mother may hold a wooden spoon in her hand and shout for her children to do their homework. Quite often this is out-of-control behavior and not seen to be good.
No doubt, the workers, students and children need to behave and work diligently but a more kind and gentle approach would be more Christ like. I must check myself in this.
Let's not be like the giant Goliath who used insults and laughter to belittle and intimidate David the shepherd boy. David had a calm answer. He'd fight in the name of the LORD his God whom Goliath had defied. We know from reading the Bible story that David won that battle over Goliath that day (see 1 Samuel 17).
True enough, intimidators have likely been intimidated themselves, and they are just using the same mode of operation as they were brought up with. Maybe they can be helped by our calm words, especially as they see we have not been moved and cowed by their rough behavior.
If left unchecked, though, the impact an intimidator has on those who feel they can't defend themselves will stir up resentment, anger and even rebellion; so says Deborah Smith Pegue in her book 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue. Such intimidationrs can also cause physical and/or emotional problems in those who live under the thumb of such bullies.
Once again, let us examine ourselves to see if we are such a person who tries to dominate another. Remember that God made us human beings in His own image; male and female. He told Adam and Eve they had dominion over the birds, fish and all that creep upon the earth (see Genesis 1:26-28).
God did not say male human beings to dominate female human beings, nor visa versa. No, male and female were both made to be of equal value and together have dominion over the earth's fauna. Not that that gives license to abuse the animal kingdom, by the way.
Keep these in mind, learning to treat each other with the love, mercy and grace of God. Cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit within us for His glory and honor. If we belong to Christ we have the Holy Spirit indwelling who will aid us in this endeavor.
By the grace of God, let us be more like Jesus and treat each other as being precious in His sight, because we are.
~ ERC June 2025 ~
Based on 1 Samuel 17 especially verse 44. Also, 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue, Day 18 - The Intimidating Tongue, by Deborah Smith Pegues.
Sing, Overcomer, along with Mandisa.
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