It’s hard to love Insects. They aren’t cute, they lack affection, and they attack our food and drinks. We swat at these fragile creatures more often than not. But God has always used them to demonstrate His power to humanity.
5 INSECTS FOUND IN BOTH BIBLICAL AND PRESENT TIMES
When Gnats, Flies, or Locusts come together, they swarm across crops and homes and cause devastation. They did this in Egypt when the Pharaoh refused to set the Israelites free.
Today, science reveals their wonderful ways, such as how Midge Flies can be credited for the existence of chocolate, because they pollinate cacao plants successfully.
Here are five Insects from the Bible worth noting – and whose impact we can still feel in our lives to this day.
LOCUSTS
Locusts are solitary Grasshoppers, but heavy rain makes them swarm. You might find up to 80 million Locusts per square kilometer whenever they do.
Notable swarms occurred in Negros Oriental and South Cotabato, according to the Philippine News Agency, and at GenSan Airport in 2017, MindaNews said.
In the Bible, Locusts symbolize God’s judgment, although this might not necessarily be the case in present times. In Exodus 10:4-6 and 13-15, it was mentioned that the land was devastated and crops were destroyed by Locusts when the Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites.
GNATS
Gnats are small Flies who swarm, bite, and cause itchy welts. Females require blood to lay eggs. On the positive side, some Gnats pollinate plants.
And in Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees’ hypocrisy for focusing on Gnats while neglecting vital issues like faith, justice, and mercy.
FLIES
There are 110,000 Fly species, some of which spread over 65 infections diseases and carry more than a hundred types of germs. On the positive side, House Flies also play a role in speeding up the decomposition of organic matter and help ensure that our garbage goes back to the earth more quickly.
Unknown to many, Flies also pollinate flowers and crops, such as apples and strawberries. As for their role in biblical times, they had been used by God to show everyone that he meant his Word. In Exodus 8:21-23, God warned the Pharaoh that Flies would swarm over Egypt if he refused to set the Israelites free. Flies swarmed everywhere, except in Goshen where the Israelites lived.
DID YOU KNOW?
Midge Flies are good news to chocolate lovers, as they pollinate cacao plants. Can you imagine a world without chocolate? Thank God – pun intended – for the Midge Flies of this world!
MOTHS
Moths are eaten by Bats but are tricky prey. At night, their squeaks trick Bats into thinking that they taste bad. When chased by a Bat, a Moth either switches direction or drops to the ground.
Tiger Moths’ bright daytime colors also deter predators who think they taste bad because of their bright colors.
Despite their talent in evasion, we tend to dislike Moths, because they eat our clothes. Of course, this has been going on even during biblical times. Isaiah 50:9 says, “See, the Sovereign Lord will help me; who is he that will condemn me? All my enemies will wear out like a garment; the Moths will eat them up.”
Matthew 6:19-21 advises against storing earthly treasures that can be destroyed or stolen, and encourages storing treasures in heaven instead, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be. As agents of destruction, Moths help remind us that what is material is temporal.
ANTS
The incredible power of Ants is grounded in teamwork. Their anatomy includes two stomachs: one for their personal food, and the other for food for the Queen, her Larvae, and other Ants. Sharing is primary to an Ant colony’s success.
Ant colonies perform with no central control. The Queen Ant gives no instructions; she just lays eggs. Also, Ants don’t make more Larvae; their colonies make more colonies. The Females do all the work: gathering supplies, building nests, and protecting the colony. Male Ants mate with the Queen – that’s all.
Through teamwork, Ants accomplish complex tasks, such as lifting a huge stone together, forming living barriers to defend their nest, and swarming to disorient, distract, and drive predators away.
Proverbs 6:6-8 in the Bible says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
DIVINE PURPOSE IN SMALL THINGS
Throughout the Bible, Insects are continually celebrated for their significance; they serve as reminders that even the smallest beings hold great importance in God’s kingdom.
Insects compel us to acknowledge that every detail in God’s grand design is vital. They pollinate crops, decompose organic matter, and uphold the delicate balance of our ecosystems. These tiny creatures are indispensable to our planet’s ecological health.
Nothing escapes God’s notice. Every Insect plays a valued role. While He shows such care and attention to these small creatures and their essential contributions, he also cherishes us by adding them to His creation so that they can give us the balanced world that we need to thrive.
