LITTLE MAGGOTS AND GOD'S LOVE

It is fascinating to me how the Lord uses little things to teach His children lessons. We struggle to learn BIG lessons such as are related to the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the hypostatic union, the sovereignty of God and more. So God, as a loving Father, comes to us with illustrations that we are able to grasp. He is the Creator and He is able to draw upon His creation for illustrations that will connect with our finite minds. In today’s reading, I was impressed by how many animals/insects are mentioned. Isaiah speaks of gazelles, sheep, owls, ostriches, goats, hyenas, jackals, maggots, worms, birds and more!

Why use these illustrations? Because like Pooh Bear or Bugs Bunny or Smokey the Bear, these animals grab our attention and we can then understand the lesson the Lord is attempting to get us to understand. Whether trying to teach us that punishment will pursue the disobedient (13:14) or that Sheol will be a ghastly place for the enemies of God (14:11), we can better understand as God utilizes these little creatures.

Jesus taught us in Luke 12:24 to “Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” We are able to grasp that lesson because we know something of the frailty of birds and our failure to see any of them starve. Jesus is teaching us, using the raven as an illustration, that we are important to God and that He will care for us. Don’t be a ‘raven-brain,’ understand that the Scriptures teach you are loved by a strong, wise and merciful Creator!