…grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ. ~ John 1:17b NASB
Welcome to Part 3 ~ An Alligator, concerning the second dream related in the initial post, A Bear, An Alligator, Two Deer & A Bear. The first dream’s follow-up can be read here in Three Dreams – Part 2 ~ A Bear.
Before I launch into this post, I think it important to reiterate that not every dream may speak to everyone. There may be one sentence, one scene, or all of one, two, or three of the three dreams that carry weight.
I do not share these dreams lightly. In my flesh, there are times I ask, “are You sure??”, but I’ve learned to obey. If a nerve gets twanged, or you feel a need to defend your family or church relationships; your head and heart nod in recognition, or it’s been this way for so long, what hope is there for any change or improvement? – Jesus knows.
Jesus, families, His Church, and the predator spirit
The Teacher portion has run strong throughout my generational line, as it has in my husband’s lineage too. Before you presume it’s not strong in yours, don’t. It is a gift dominant in every life and family, including God’s family. Something and many things are always actively being taught or passively being caught. Imprinted, imparted, implied, or left to one’s interpretation, we age through life with a sense of rights, responsibilities, and relationships from a perspective shaped by a motive. 1 Is it redemptive or non-redemptive? Jesus knows.
This Age before Christ’s return is growing late. We don’t have to go find a battle; it’s on our doorstep. In the second dream, the predator spirit, purposed to exploit 2, was preying on (visiting) open points of access. Not far removed from “your adversary, the devil, (who) prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” This one of whom the Apostle Peter warned, admonishing us to “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.” I Peter 5:8
The alligator in this second dream is as ancient as Leviathan, yet found its foothold as little foxes we are told in scripture to catch while they are young. Notably in the dream, it was not a crocodile, far more fierce and deadly than its relative, the alligator. Even while showing hard things, Holy Spirit works to bring us into Truth’s freedom. There is so much power and authority and wisdom surging throughout Him for these present days we’re living.
We are not warring against flesh and blood, but a predator spirit whose strength is reinforced by our own will. If we would be a living demonstration of Christ’s life in this world, we will learn to pray as Jesus did, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42 He was in Gethsemane at the time; alone, where the metaphors end.
Without further commentary, I want to close this dream from a Teacher portion perspective of Leviathan, of whom God said in Job 41:34 – “he is king over all the sons of pride.” Only Christ can take him on; be hid in Him.3
Leviathan in Scripture
There are five specific verses of scripture where Leviathan is mentioned by name. They are listed here for you to look up and read in context – the best prescribed way to read, hear, and study the Word of God for yourself.
“Let those who curse the day curse it, those who are skilled at rousing Leviathan.” – Job 3:8
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or can you tie down its mouth with a cord?” – Job 41:1
“You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food to the desert-dwelling creatures.” – Psalm 74:14
“There the ships sail. Leviathan is there that you formed to play with.” – Psalm 104:26
“On that day, Yahweh will punish with his cruel, great and strong sword, Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and Leviathan, the twisting serpent, and he will kill the sea monster that is in the sea.” – Isaiah 27:1
These verses carry mystery and the mysterious ways of God regarding this one of His incredible creations. I am not here to try to expound on them. I am here to bring Holy scripture to bear in the face of myths and legends.
Characteristics Specific to a Leviathan Spirit
At the risk of wearing it out by sheer familiarity, I will keep shouting it from the rooftops! Jesus in John 10:10 –
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
The Leviathan spirit operates from that sole aim. Anything of value or meaning in a person’s life is fair game. To thwart God’s purposes, especially in the lives of His highest creation, humans – is Leviathan’s highest purpose.
Characteristics specific to a Leviathan spirit aid us in recognizing its operation in families and the family of God:
Blame and Self-pity – master of both, pride (often with anger) rises in resistance to humbling oneself
Stiff-necked – stubborn, given to do something only if it’s their idea first
Twists the truth – misinterprets what is said, manipulates, tells half-truths out of fear, confusion
Breaks Covenants – covenants of any kind, but especially in marriages
Hard-hearted and cold – unfeeling, lack of empathy, pity, tenderness, hard to see other’s point of view
Proud, arrogant, and haughty – a spirit of pride, offered the lie of power and a false sense of identity
Contentious – contention and misunderstanding between people and God; strife through angry or bitter disagreement of fundamental issues; conflict that leads to major division, often destroying relationships
Whispering Liar – whispering spirit of lies and implanted thoughts that encourages false accusations, completely distorts and twists the truth, hammered in to the point of unable to discern his lying thoughts from their own
Severs the relationship with God – causes hardness of heart towards God; stirs up feelings of anger, resentment, unforgiveness, and bitterness towards God by whispering lies about God – from the Beginning
Blocks communication with the Holy Spirit – Leviathan’s scales block even the air – breath of the Holy Spirit
Depression – spirit of heaviness withering our soul that was not made to live in darkness but in Christ’s light
Lifts up leaders to destroy them – puffs them up until it’s time to turn on them and bring them down ~
To be continued in Part 4 ~ Two Deer & A Bear
Gracefully Free
1 a phrase Holy Spirit gave me a long time ago, scribbled on a scrap of paper in my Bible
2 exploit: manipulate, use unfairly, activity, develop, utilize for one’s benefit without regard for the other
3 Colossians 3:3
Further reading: Redemptive Gifts Lexicon; Legitimacy Lies and Legitimacy Lies & Jesus – the Identity Statements
Photo Credit: Pexels-Pixabay-33783 │ ©2025 Nancy C. Bentz
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