Jewel # 259 (Aug. 31, 2016)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord

of hosts, in that day when I

Make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

The Always-Hungry Shrew

“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field.” 

(Genesis 2:19) 

There are more than 200 kinds of shrews throughout the world, with 30 kinds in North America.   They are among the smallest known mammals—the tiniest is so small it could be hidden in a man’s closed fist and weights less than a dime.  The largest American shrew is about six inches long, including its tail.  But in spite of their small size, they will attack and with their very sharp teeth they will kill animals more than twice their size.

The reason for such fierceness is that they are always hungry and must eat almost continually during the day, eating about three times their weight daily in order to stay alive.  A boy or girl weighing 50 pounds would have to eat about 600 hamburgers a day to keep up with a shrew!  Do you think you could do that?

Most shrews look like a mouse with a pointed nose.  Because much of their food consists of worms, grubs and insects in the soil, the Creator has given shrews long, slender snouts to explore small holes and crevices for food.

Actually, a shrew will eat almost any living creature it can handle, including small birds and snakes, mice, frogs and chipmunks.  Because their tremendous appetites cause them to eat so many mice and insects, farmers are usually glad to have them around.

Most shrews are good swimmers, but one known as the water shrew outdoes them all.  It can stay underwater a long time, devouring fish, frogs and crabs.  If its food gives out, it will die of hunger in less than a day’s time, so it also eats some land creatures.

Most shrews make grassy nests in the side of a bank or in short burrows, where half a dozen or more babies are born in the spring.  The mother takes care of them, nursing them for a short time and then training them to search for solid food.  In just a few weeks, she leaves them entirely on their own.

Do you think God cares about shrews?  Yes He does, for the Bible tells us, “In His hand is the soul of every living thing” (Job 12:10).  He watches over all His creation, even though sin has spoiled so much of it.

We admire these little creatures but cannot help but think how they remind us of Satan who “walks about, seeking whom he may devour”  (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan is very real, and we can only be kept from his tempting us into evil things if we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour.  Then we can come to Him in earnest prayer for help, since He “is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).   

Is He your Saviour?

Is He a refuge and strength to you?

Love you all - Grandpa