And locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth. And they were given authority like the scorpions of the earth have authority. Rev. 9:3.
I have seen only one scorpion in the wild. I was staying in a kibbutz at the edge of Jerusalem when one of them wandered through the wide-open outside door of the ballroom and headed across the floor. The fearsome stinger remained in full view the whole time, arched over the scorpion's back. A crowd gathered at a safe distance to watch its progress, wondering fearfully what to do. After a couple minutes a skittish but determined colleague of mine found a widemouthed glass, turned it upside down, and covered the scorpion on the floor with the glass. He then slipped a piece of paper between it and the floor. This way he could carefully return the creature back outside.
A story tells of a frog and a scorpion contemplating a swift river that they both needed to cross. The barrier was more of a problem to the scorpion than it was to the frog. So the scorpion asked the frog to permit it to ride on its back across the river.
"Why would I allow you to do that?" the frog demanded. "When we get halfway across the river you will sting me, and I will drown."
"Why would I do that?" the scorpion countered. "If you drown, so will I. It would be stupid for me to sting you."
Convinced by the scorpion's argument, the frog agreed to ferry the scorpion across the river. Halfway across the river the scorpion stung the frog. As both drifted down to their deaths, the frog protested, "Why did you do that? You promised!"
"I couldn't help it," the scorpion responded. "It's my nature to sting!"
While I was able to avoid it that day, I understand that the scorpion's sting is one of the most painful things a human being can endure. The excruciating pain captures one's full attention for some time. In this passage the scorpion represents the power of darkness and evil. Satan offers people enticing opportunities. He promises that if they will follow him they will have pleasures galore, wealth and fame, and everything their hearts desire.
His followers quickly discover, however, that while he may promise many things, it is his nature to torment those in his control. The enticing things he dangles--such as illicit sex, power over others, and the accumulation of things--all have consequences that lead to misery and pain. He seeks to hide their results behind a pleasant face, but let the tempted ones beware! Serving Satan leads to no joy and no future.
Lord, I am constantly bombarded with advertisements and other incentives to make choices that would lead me away from You. Share a good dose of reality with me today.
I have seen only one scorpion in the wild. I was staying in a kibbutz at the edge of Jerusalem when one of them wandered through the wide-open outside door of the ballroom and headed across the floor. The fearsome stinger remained in full view the whole time, arched over the scorpion's back. A crowd gathered at a safe distance to watch its progress, wondering fearfully what to do. After a couple minutes a skittish but determined colleague of mine found a widemouthed glass, turned it upside down, and covered the scorpion on the floor with the glass. He then slipped a piece of paper between it and the floor. This way he could carefully return the creature back outside.
A story tells of a frog and a scorpion contemplating a swift river that they both needed to cross. The barrier was more of a problem to the scorpion than it was to the frog. So the scorpion asked the frog to permit it to ride on its back across the river.
"Why would I allow you to do that?" the frog demanded. "When we get halfway across the river you will sting me, and I will drown."
"Why would I do that?" the scorpion countered. "If you drown, so will I. It would be stupid for me to sting you."
Convinced by the scorpion's argument, the frog agreed to ferry the scorpion across the river. Halfway across the river the scorpion stung the frog. As both drifted down to their deaths, the frog protested, "Why did you do that? You promised!"
"I couldn't help it," the scorpion responded. "It's my nature to sting!"
While I was able to avoid it that day, I understand that the scorpion's sting is one of the most painful things a human being can endure. The excruciating pain captures one's full attention for some time. In this passage the scorpion represents the power of darkness and evil. Satan offers people enticing opportunities. He promises that if they will follow him they will have pleasures galore, wealth and fame, and everything their hearts desire.
His followers quickly discover, however, that while he may promise many things, it is his nature to torment those in his control. The enticing things he dangles--such as illicit sex, power over others, and the accumulation of things--all have consequences that lead to misery and pain. He seeks to hide their results behind a pleasant face, but let the tempted ones beware! Serving Satan leads to no joy and no future.
Lord, I am constantly bombarded with advertisements and other incentives to make choices that would lead me away from You. Share a good dose of reality with me today.
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