WORMS
“ ‘Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you,’
says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel”
(Isaiah 41:14).
Would you be happy if someone called you a worm? I suppose your answer would be no, but maybe you will change your mind after reading today’s meditation.
Worms have great lessons to teach us. For example, when the female worm known as coccus ilicis is ready to lay eggs, she fastens onto a tree trunk to protect the eggs beneath her until the larvae are able to begin their own life cycle. When the larvae show signs of independence, the mother worm dies, and a red liquid fills her body and spills out around her. In ancient times, this liquid was extracted to make the famous scarlet and crimson colors that were so valued in Isaiah’s day. In fact, the Hebrew word for worm can be translated as ‘scarlet” or ‘crimson.” It’s possible that David used this metaphor when he wrote the Messianic Psalm, describing the suffering and death of Jesus: ‘But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people” (Psalm 22:6). Although infinitely imperfect, this image of the worm dying to give life is reminiscent of the blood spilled by Jesus on the cross so that we might have access to eternal life.”
Some species of worms are very useful for humans. One of the most common is the worm used for the making of silk. It is said that this use was discovered one day when the Chinese empress Xi Ling-Shi was drinking tea in her garden. A worm fell into her cup, and when she tried to take it out it began to spin its silk. Since she weaved, she decided to use the thread produced by the worm, thus beginning the production of the finest cloth on earth. There are also worms used in the culinary and medical fields, as well as in teaching. We can learn much by observing the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Other biblical references to worms are not very pleasant: Bildad uses a worm to compare a man to God (see Job 25:6), and to describe corruptions (Job 17:4) a worm ate the vine that was giving Jonah shade (see Jonah 4:7); manna gathered by disobedient Israelites got wormy (see Exodus 16:20); and they will not die in the bodies of the ungodly (see Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:44i Job 21:216).
Nonetheless, Isaiah reminds Judah and us that although you may be as insignificant as a worm, God can transform you because He is Lord, He is holy, and He is our Redeemed.
*Henry M. Morris, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science (Grind Rapids, M I: Baker Book House, 1985). p. 73.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Angelica Cuate & Esteban Cortes