The Wonders of God’s Creation
As beautiful, stately and strong as a tree may appear, it has enemies quite capable of killing it, and some of these are very small insects. One of these little, but persistent, enemies is the bark beetle, which is sometimes called the “tree killer.” It is one of the worst pests of spruce and pine trees in the United States.
Sometimes singly and oftentimes coming in swarms, these beetles bore through cracks in the bark, digging their way into the sapwood. In a healthy tree, they often become submerged in, and die from, the resin that comes out of the holes they make. In weakened and drought-affected trees there is not enough resin to trap them. In working into this vital sapwood, they lay eggs in the tunnels they have made, and when they hatch, the larvae continue to feed in the tree.
If there were no way to stop these persistent little insects, there would eventually be no pine or spruce trees left. God has provided protection for these trees by using another insect species known as “checkered beetles,” which can catch the bark beetles in flight and eat them. Not only do the checkered beetles kill the damaging insects in this manner, they also follow them into their tunnels. In doing so they do not harm the trees, as they bore no new holes, but follow the tree killers into the tunnels already made. Inside, they lay eggs alongside those of the bark beetle’s and when they hatch out, they attack and kill the newly-hatched bark beetle larvae.
Then, too, God has given another friend to the trees—the braconid wasp. In some miraculous manner they locate the larvae laid in the tree by the killers—even though it might be under an inch of bark. This wasp, once it has found the larvae, injects its own eggs into the bark beetle. The eggs soon hatch and immediately feed on their host. Once injected the killers have no means of escape and are doomed.
The “killer beetles” remind us of the enemy, Satan, who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8). His attacks are often in some small manner that we may even be aware of, but we say: “That doesn’t amount to much. I’m not concerned about it.” But what prayerful care we need, so that Satan should not get an advantage of us.
The only way we can apply the armor of Ephesians 6, or withstand Satan’s attacks is by turning to the Lord in every testing. “Filly,... be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:1010Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10). With Him taking our place before the tempter we can say “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:5757But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57).
ML-07/06/1980