God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:25

Some years ago I was teaching a course entitled “Tough Questions Christians Ask”. The students studied a variety of topics that included: Should miracles be expected today? How can a loving God allow evil and pain? Can Christians know God’s will for their lives? What is the role of women in the church today? But one topic we never addressed was, why did God make a variety of nasty little bugs? That’s a good question. You’ve probably thought about it. If so, you may appreciate the liberties I’ve taken with the well-known children’s hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful. Feel free to sing along:

Some things not so beautiful. Those creatures wild and fell.

Pests that nip and worry you.

The Lord made them as well.

Each little leech that suctions. Each little flea that springs.

He made their hungry habits. He made their tiny stings.

Some things not so beautiful, etc.

The scaly-headed rattlesnake. The spider running by.

The ever hungry locust. Brings darkness to the sky.

Some things not so beautiful, etc.

The blackfly in the summer. These insects swarm and bite.

The midges near the water. Torment us every night.

Some things not so beautiful, etc.

He gave us nerves to feel them. And skin to itch and swell.

Now did God have a reason, for making them as well?

Some things not so beautiful, etc.

 

As with many tough issues in Christianity there are sometimes more questions than answers. As we ask the questions, we begin to realize we’re limited in our perspectives.  We recognize that “now (we) know in part (and) then (we) shall know fully” 1 Corinthians 13:12. But the part we do know is that when God made all these creatures He “saw that it was good” Genesis1:25. Yes the leech, the flea, the snake, the spider, the locust, the blackfly, the midges, and countless other insects and reptiles were made by God and rated by Him as “very good” Genesis1:31. So even if you’re nursing a painful bee sting, as I was doing when I wrote this devotion, remember that Mrs. C. F. Alexander is quite correct when she penned the words; “All things bright and beautiful. All creatures great and small . . . How great is God Almighty. Who has done all things well.”