Many unusual birds and animals live in the Kenya district of Africa. An amazing combination that works together is a sea gull-sized bird with dark brown wings and snow-white body and a four-footed animal with gray fur having a narrow white border and short black legs. These are the honey-guide bird and the honey badger. They both like wild honey and work together to get it.
When the honey-guide bird is flying through the forests and hears a loud humming of bees, she knows a nest is nearby in the side of a split rock or perhaps in a decaying tree trunk. Immediately she flies to where she knows a honey badger will be found and she chatters noisily to attract his attention. Then she flies in the direction of the swarm of bees, making sure he is following.
They may have to go quite a distance, but both know the treat that will be at the end of the trip.
When they get to the swarm of bees, the honey badger starts tearing the honeycomb apart with his sharp claws and teeth. The bees begin buzzing angrily about and swarming over him. But he isn’t afraid of them because their stingers can’t get through his thick fur.
What about the bird? She waits impatiently, for it is not the honey she wants; she’s after the waxy honeycomb that stores the honey. But this will not be available until her friend has first licked out the honey. Eventually she gets the honeycomb and enjoys her treat after the badger has finished and gone on his way. Both will be ready to do it again the next time there is an opportunity.
Sometimes when a native hunter sees the bird leading a badger, he knows what’s going on and will frighten the animal away. Then the bird accepts him as a substitute worker, with the same results. The man gets the honey and the bird gets her fill of the wax which she can handle with a digestive system that breaks down and welcomes the sweet food, usually accompanied by a number of bees eaten at the same time.
We know that when the Creator first brought bees, birds and animals into the world they all lived together peacefully. It was the disobedience of Adam and Eve that brought sin into the world with many sorrows.
But God has promised a happy life in heaven for those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Heaven is His home where no sin or unhappiness of any kind will ever come. Will you be there too?
JANUARY 2, 1994
ML-01/02/1994