The Camel in Your Tent - the Enemy’s Subtle Tactic Robbing Our Effectiveness in the MarketplaceSample

I have observed in the marketplace there is a very common and extremely subtle tactic used by the enemy that is strangling the favour of God, shutting down cashflows, and even entire businesses. This so-called tactic is articulated brilliantly by the famous Arabic legend by Beneschke Janse van Rensburg. Here is the story “The Arab and his Camel” –

The sun was setting, and the Arab and his camel were walking through the windy desert. Suddenly, from nowhere, a sandstorm swept through the desert. The Arabian quickly stopped and got into his tent.

He was just settling down when his camel squeezed his nose through the tent, asking: "Sir, please, it is cold and sandy out here. Can I keep my nose inside the tent?" The Arab felt sorry for the camel and agreed.

A short while later, the Arab woke up and saw the camel forcing his whole head inside the tent. "Please, sir..." the camel started again. "It's very cold outside... I just want to put my head inside." Again, the Arab agreed. There was still enough space in his tent.

It did not take long for the pattern to repeat itself. First, it was the camel's nose, then his head, and when the Arabian woke up after a while, he was shocked to discover the camel had taken over his entire tent and left him alone outside in the cold desert.

This is a metaphor that reflects many situations that occur in the marketplace. We all have camels in our lives who are begging for admission into our lives. Initially, any camel looks harmless and manageable, but this quickly develops into something much bigger and undesirable, inevitably causing problems for you in the long term.

Over the next few days, we will examine both a biblical and marketplace example that proves how this tactic from the enemy can endanger an individual’s God-given assignment if it is not recognized in time.