IN INDIA a large elephant showed by the constant twitching of his huge body, that he was much annoyed by his persecutors, the mosquitoes. Just at that time his keeper brought a tiny Indian baby, as round as a ball, and laying it down before the huge animal, uttered two words in Hindustani, “Watch it.” Then he walked away into the town.
The elephant immediately broke off a large bough of a tree so as to make a whisk, and directed his whole attention to the child, gently fanning the tiny thing and driving away every mosquito which came near it. This he continued for upward of two hours, regardless of himself, until the keeper returned.
It was really a touching sight, causing much reflection. Here was an immense creature, whose weight exceeded that of the infant by at least a thousand times, silently proving the truth of sacred Scripture, that God has given to man dominion over the beasts of the field (Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)). And here too, was a brute animal setting an example of devotion and self-denial that few, none indeed perhaps but a mother, would have shown.
When we think of the immensity of this elephant and his gentleness, it carries our thoughts on to Him who is the elephant’s Maker, the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, whose greatness and power is infinitely beyond the elephant’s, but whose love and gentleness exceeds even that of a mother. We read of Him as the One that “sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers"; before whom the nations are as a drop in the bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales. Yet it is He who “shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isaiah 40.)
When He was here on earth He took the little children up in His arms and blessed them, saying, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:1414But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14).
Who can conceive the joy and happiness of being in heaven forever with such a blessed Man! And yet, dear young friends, we can know Him and enjoy His love down here, if we come and trust Him as our Saviour.
ML-03/15/1970