If there is a beast that can rival the snake for ugliness and the horror it inspires, it is surely the crocodile, yet this great creature is looked upon as a god by many black tribes.
The Egyptians builded for him, temples containing large basins, carved in marble. Many cities near the Nile, from Memphis to Thebes, had sacred crocodiles.
These horrible reptiles had no need to hide in the mire to lie in wait for cattle who came to drink in the river, or even for human flesh. Well-nourished with delicate meats, brought to them by numerous servants, and presented on the end of golden prongs, they received, on certain days, the worship and the prayers of the people. It was a happy omen when these monsters devoured greedily, not only the flesh of the victims sacrificed, but cakes made of fine flour, with wine and hydromel.
The inhabitants of Central Africa and Madagascar also have the same superstitious fear and the same worship. Many negro tribes worship the crocodiles as gods; they have feasts in their honor when they dance at the sound of weird music, and parade upon the shore of the river.
How low man can fall when away from God! His Word tells us that men, when they knew God, glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; that their foolish hearts were darkened, and thought themselves wise, but became fools and worshiped birds, four-footed beasts and creeping things, and that for this cause God gave them over to practice unseemly things. This worship of cruel beasts is surely one of these unseemly things! These supposed gods are thirsty for blood, and demand human sacrifices! The unhappy blacks are terrorized by the thought that the evil spirit which dwells in the body of the crocodile, would do them all sorts of harm should they not succeed in appeasing him. In the darkness of their minds, they throw to these animals human victims, especially children, unable to defend themselves!
It is not only the African natives which were plunged into such barbarism. The Hindoos, also, until forbidden by English laws, used to throw to the saurians their sick and their dead. The temples dedicated to their gods, are provided with crocodile ponds, as were the Egyptians. In the Philippines, if one is unfortunate enough to knock with the keel of his boat one of these monsters asleep, the boatmen hastily recite special prayers, and throw into the water everything that is in the boat!
In this land of Bibles, we do not see such atrocities; we may well be thankful for it; but God holds us much more responsible, and if we refuse Christ for our Saviour, we shall be lost for eternity, just as the poor heathen who have not heard of Him.
“THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.” Acts. 4:12.
ML 11/26/1922