The Lord counts each of us as highly important, but did you know He counts the oft-maligned mosquito as important, too? We probably all know the pesky insect is good food for birds, but they’re important in other ways. Read on.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
You Count
Mosquitoes seem to be the bane of all of us outdoorsy types. They even hang around above the snow, as I learned when boating in British Columbia one late spring. And as much as I enjoyed gardening, picking wild berries, and hiking in the woods, hordes of mosquitoes always seemed to spoil my fun. Sometimes they were so bad I’d give up and go home.
Once home in the comfort of my mosquito-proof porch, however, I’d remember that God has a purpose even for those tiny maligned critters. For one thing, if not for mosquitoes, a songbird’s diet would be slimmer. Yes, even the lowly mosquito counts for something.
Mosquitoes truly do count as beneficial in several ways, believe it or not. Not only are they a great food source for birds, fish, bats, reptiles, and other animals with their high content of protein, they’re also good pollinators. They help plants spread and increase plant diversity, and even protect the rainforest.
We humans count even more than the disliked-but-valuable mosquito. The Israelites were so special to God that when they finally reached the Promised Land, He asked Moses to census the people. He wanted to count every single one; they were that important. We are as precious and special to God the Father as the Israelites were and still are.
When things don’t go the way we plan, however, we may find ourselves feeling abandoned by God and begin to worry. But if we walk along His path, according to His Word, we can be assured of His presence. The Bible tells us that He is around us, above us, before us, behind us, and beneath us. Who else can make such a promise? Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26-27)
The Bible also offers other assurances of our value:
"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore." (Psalm 125:2) "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27) "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them …and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light…" (Exodus 13:21) "And I pray that you … may have power … to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…" (Ephesians 3:18)
Lord God, thank You for valuing all life, even the mosquito. Cause us to comprehend and believe in Your all-encompassing love toward us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Commenti