Have you seen the video of a 17-year-old girl defending her dogs from a full-grown bear? The video, which has been viewed more than 68 million times, shows Hailey Morinico, of Bradbury, California, rescuing her dogs from a bear on her back patio.

The dogs were naturally defending their territory from the intruding bear. The bear was naturally defending her cubs from the perceived threat of the dogs. When Hailey saw what was happening, she rushed to the rescue. Without hesitation, she ran over and pushed the bear off a concrete fence. Then she herded her dogs to safety, while the bear scampered away. Hailey sprained a finger and scraped a knee in the encounter, but other than that she and the dogs are fine.

Experts do not advise pushing bears. Even Hailey cautions, “Don’t do what I did. You might not have the same outcome.” She just got caught up in the moment. Without thinking, she put herself in danger in order to rescue the dogs that she loved.

This reminds us of how the shepherd boy David rescued his father’ sheep from lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-37). It might also remind us of this teaching of Jesus from John 15:13—“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The Bible tells us that the devil wants to destroy human beings. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The Bible also says that we should come to the rescue of those who are being attacked by Satan. We should work to restore those who are caught in a sin (Galatians 6:1). Jude 23 urges us to “save others by snatching them from the fire…”

We are called by God to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ from attacks by the enemy. Throwing caution to the wind, we must rush to their defense. The threat is too great, and the consequences too severe, for us to “mind our own business” and not get involved in the lives of Christians who are in danger of being dragged away by Satan. Our love for our fellow believers must outweigh any fear, or doubt, or hesitation we may have. In this world where spiritual warfare is a real and ever-present danger, we must rush to the rescue of anyone who needs our help.

The story of Hailey Morinico confronting a bear in order to save her beloved dogs also reminds us of the gospel message. Jesus knew that we were facing a threat that was too big for us to handle on our own. We were dead in our sins, but Jesus came rushing to the rescue! Leaving his heavenly home, Jesus came to earth and laid down his life for us. By dying on the cross he paid for our sins. When God raised Jesus from the dead, Satan was defeated. Through Jesus we have deliverance from sin and death! He made it possible for us to be saved, and for that we will be eternally grateful!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16.