Simba: Rising from Chaos (The Lion King Film Analysis)
The Lion King, which was released in 1994, is one of the greatest films of all time. Not only because of the animation quality for its time, and not only for the excellent voice acting of high profile stars. But also for the high-quality storytelling, particularly around its central character, Simba.
One of the main reasons Simba’s story is so compelling is that we can all relate to his story in some way, shape or form. He begins as a privileged young cub living well enough in the Pride Lands, before he was struck by tragedy: His father, Mufasa, the king of Pride Rock, dies in a wildebeest stampede, he is guilted by his uncle Scar and told that he has full responsibility for his father’s death, and is chased away from the Pride Lands, the only home he has ever known, while still young, inexperienced and unprepared for the wilderness that is the outside world. He is thrust into an encounter with chaos.
Simba’s encounter with chaos, difficulty, and trials is something we can all relate to. However, what makes the film great is Simba eventually rising out of the chaos, stronger and wiser, to fulfil his destiny as the titular Lion King. We all can relate to his story, as we all aspire to rise out of our current encounter with chaos of life to eventually come out better, as the king of our own kingdom.
Little do people notice that Simba’s story has a multitude of Biblical parallels. Many of God’s servants in the bible encounter chaos, is forged and moulded by their experiences, and then through their own self-growth guided by God, they come back as better people, more wiser, resilient, and more worthy to receive God’s favour. In fact, God through the wise king Solomon says this:
‘Gold and silver are tested by fire, and a person’s heart is tested by the LORD’
-Proverbs 17:3
So let’s take a look at some parallels from the Bible:
Joseph, son of Jacob
Joseph, much like Simba, was loved deeply by his father. In fact, he was the most beloved out of all his brothers. However, this eventually led to his other brother’s resenting him being the favourite, much the same way Scar resented Simba for being next in line for the throne after Mufasa. As a result, his brothers betrayed him, and Joseph was eventually sold to merchants on their way to Egypt. Thus began Joseph’s encounter with chaos, in the same way Simba began his encounter with chaos in the desert wastelands beyond his home.
While in Egypt, he was thrown into prison. However, Joseph’s God-given ability to interpret dreams was discovered, and as a result, was asked to interpret the dreams of the Pharoah. As a result, he was given the title of the Vizier of Egypt, second in command only to the Pharoah. His family eventually saw him in the end, with great power and strength, grown and matured from his past trials and encounter with chaos, much the same way Simba grew to become the great king of Pride Rock at the end of his journey.
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:38–41
Noah and the Ark
Noah at the time was a good man and a servant of God. He had three sons, each with their own wives. However, God decided to destroy the world with a flood because he saw the people of the world as corrupt. Thus, God commanded Noah to build an Ark so he and his family can be spared from God’s punishment.
The great flood came, and the world was destroyed, which draws parallel to how Simba’s entire world was destroyed when his father Mufasa dies and he is forced into exile. However, throughout the entire process of the flood, Noah experienced the counsel and guidance of God, with God always instructing him on how to best navigate the chaos of the flood. This is in much the same way Simba is guided by the spirit of Mufasa in the sky, who encourages Simba to remember who he is: the rightful King of the Pride Lands.
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you — the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you — every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Genesis 9:8–11
The world Noah once knew was destroyed, much like how Scar’s rule over the Pride Lands after his takeover causes desolation in the kingdom. However, after the flood, the lands are restored and God blesses Noah and his descendants to inhabit the new world he has created, much like how Simba retook the throne and restored the ruined Pride Lands to their former glory.
Job
There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshipped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 head of cattle, and 500 donkeys. He also had a large number of servants and was the richest man in the East.
Job 1:1–3
Of all God’s faithful servants, Job’s encounter with chaos and the trials of life forms the central theme of his story. He was very well off and was prosperous through the blessing of God, which draws parallel to Simba’s anointment as the heir to Pride Rock. However, this was not to last.
Much like how Simba lost everything upon the death of his father and his exile, Job sequentially lost everything, from his wealth, to his health, to his children, culminating in his wife challenging and daring him to curse God for his misfortunes. However, through it all, Job remained loyal to God, even though his trust in God wavered through this difficult trial and encounter with chaos and tragedy.
Even though Job wavered in his conviction as God’s servant for a time, similar to how Simba wavered in his conviction to become the king he was meant to be, Job eventually overcame this test of resolve. This led to God blessing him with children more beautiful than his last and more wealth than he had before. He levelled up, emotionally and spiritually, like how Simba levelled up on his journey to become the king.
Moses and the Israelites
God’s people, the nation of Israel, had been slaves in Egypt for many years. They have been living under cruel conditions, however they have become accustomed, almost comfortable in their lifestyle. Comfort can be the word used to describe Simba’s life in Pride Rock before Scar took over the Pride Lands.
However, Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the chaos of life outside Egypt. God promised that the Israelites would inherit the promised land of Canaan, where the land was fertile. However, the Israelites were swayed into not going into the promised land out of fear of the giant inhabitants of the land. They refused to face their fears and ran away from the promise of God, refusing to pay the price for God’s blessing. This is much like how Simba ran away from his past all those years outside of the Pride Lands, and how he rejected his responsibilities out of weakness, thus refusing the privilege of being the king.
“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’ ”
Exodus 6:6–8
As a result, the Israelites would wander the wilderness for forty years, in much the same way Simba wandered the lands beyond his home. This was until the Israelites were ready to face the giants of Canaan and claim God’s promised land, much like how Simba was forced to mature and be strengthened by his experiences before he was ready to take the throne.
King David
Of all the stories in the Bible, this story most likely resembled Simba’s journey to the throne of Pride Rock the most. David begun his journey as a humble shepherd, before he was anointed by God through the prophet Samuel to be the future king of Israel in place of then king Saul. With God’s power, David kills Goliath, which causes the nation of Israel to love David, the future king. This however feeds into Saul’s growing resentment towards David, so Saul thrusts David’s life into chaos and unpredictability by plotting to get rid of David.
This draws a lot of parallels to Simba’s life before his exile from Pride Rock. Simba is anointed as future king by his father Mufasa, which leads to Scar resenting Simba and plotting to kill him in order to take the throne for himself.
Despite this, David is able to overcome all the challenges posed by Saul, and he is eventually able to take the throne of Israel and Judah, battle-hardened and experienced, with Saul himself recognizing David as his rightful successor. This is much like how Simba takes the throne from Scar after years of experience in the wilderness, leading to a prosperous and wise rule of the Pride Lands born out of his new found insight and qualities.
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
2 Samuel 5:3–5
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth is probably the most important figure in the Bible, and his encounter with chaos, difficulty, and the unknown is the most important story in the Bible. Jesus was anointed by God to proclaim the good news of salvation to the people, much like how Simba was anointed by Mufasa to become the king of the Pride Lands.
Jesus encountered many tests and challenges, such as being tempted by Satan, the devil, in the wilderness, being persecuted by the Jewish teachers of his time, and encountering the people’s doubts about his claims as the Son of God. This is in much the same way Simba was exiled from the Pride Lands and led astray by his new, frivolous, irresponsible lifestyle outside of his kingdom. Simba experienced the temptations of a carefree existence and faced a great crisis in his identity as the king.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:8–11
The ultimate experience with chaos Jesus of Nazareth endured was being tortured and put to death on the cross for the sins of mankind, much like how Simba’s former selves were put to death. This happened first when his naive, childlike self was put to death by the tragedy and chaos of the death of Mufasa as well as his resultant guilt and shame. This happened a second time when Simba finally put to death the impulsive, pleasure-seeking identity he took on outside of the Pride Lands.
Jesus of Nazareth of course rose again from the dead and ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of God, much like how Simba returned to Pride Rock to take his place as the titular Lion King.
You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of life.
Mufasa
Simba’s character was tested, and he encountered chaos, tragedy, and the unknown during his ascendance to be the king. However, he was required to undergo these things, and he was required to endure suffering within his soul during his time exiled from the Pride Lands. His experiences forged and molded him to be the king he was, in much the same way God’s people from the Bible were put to the test, endured chaos, and was forged by the fire of challenges to come out stronger and better, with their character more developed and with the added blessings of God.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:7
We can all learn from Simba’s story, as well as the stories of chaos and ascension from the Bible. They will teach us how to face the chaos of life, whenever it comes, with courage, strength, and grace, and come out stronger and wiser, more worthy of the favor of God. The world will be harsh, and God will allow you to encounter the chaos of life, because God knows and wants you to become better if you overcome the challenges facing you.
Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are.
Mufasa
Learn from the biblical stories passed down from generation to generation, and learn from Simba’s journey, how he became the great king of the Pride Lands after encountering chaos.
