“Tell me a story, please, Uncle Ed,” said Mark as he lay in bed. Mark was recovering from the flu and had been in bed for two days. His Uncle Ed, who lived in the same town, had come over to cheer him up.
Uncle Ed had just returned from South America and had lots of wonderful things to talk about. He liked children, and they all liked him and the stories he told.
“I’ll tell you a snake story,” Uncle Ed replied.
“One beautiful morning I started on a day’s hike into the jungle. I carried a small lunch and a gun for protection. I had been hiking for several hours when I found a nice shady spot beside a stream. I sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to rest and eat my lunch. It was a beautiful tropical day. The jungle was beautiful with color and full of life. The quietness was broken only by the music of the birds and the humming of countless busy insects.
“While resting there I noticed a bird fluttering around in a tree near where I was sitting. As I watched, the fluttering of the bird increased. It was noticeable that this mother bird was upset about something. I slowly walked closer to see what was bothering her. There was her nest, but why was she so upset?
“Looking around, I quickly understood her problem. Slithering slowly towards the tree was one of the most poisonous snakes in South America. Its small eyes were focused on the nest as its forked tongue flicked out and in.
“I was getting ready to shoot the snake when I saw a strange thing happen. The father bird flew away, returning moments later with a small twig covered with leaves in his beak. Perching near the nest, he laid the twig carefully across it, covering the nest and the mother bird who was now sitting on the nest. Then he flew to the top of the tree and quietly waited.
“The snake moved closer and closer. He twisted himself around the trunk and climbed up the tree. Then, gliding along the branch, he came close to the nest. His small eyes watched the nest, his tongue flicked several times, and then... " Uncle Ed paused.
“Oh! What happened, Uncle Ed?” cried Mark anxiously.
“The snake suddenly jerked his head back as if he had been hit with something. Then he turned around, slithered back down the tree, and disappeared in the long grass.
“Curious to see what had caused this reaction by the snake, I climbed up the tree and examined the small leafy twig still covering the mother bird and her babies. Not finding anything unusual, I gently removed the twig and carried it home with me. I showed it to a native friend and told him the whole story. He told me that the twig came from a bush which was poisonous to the snake, and which they are never known to touch. The bird had used it to protect his family from the snake.”
In the Bible Satan is called, “that old serpent” or snake. Satan wants to destroy not only boys and girls, but men and women as well. He is a powerful enemy, and none of us can fight against him. The bird could not fight against the snake. Instead, he found a twig that would give protection. In the same way we are no match for Satan. But Christ is the One who can give us perfect protection from Satan. It was on a tree, the cross of Calvary, that He died for sinners. “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Are you as wise as the bird that protected its nest? Are you protected by the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on Calvary’s tree?
Isn’t it wonderful that God should teach the bird which tree would give protection from the snake? And isn’t it wonderful that He has provided the cross for our protection from Satan? There that great work was finished by our Lord Jesus for those who would trust in Him. It is the most remarkable fact in the whole universe that “the Son of God... loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). This salvation is for “whosoever will.” Will you? “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).
ML-10/18/1987