IT WAS just at dawn and a fisherman rested in his boat as he viewed the golden sunrise over the beautiful Scottish lake. He watched with pleasure as Mother Greyleaf and her little train of tiny ducklings drifted about on the bosom of the shimmering water.
Greyleaf had many enemies—foxes on shore, the big pikes under the water, and the gulls which were ever circling overhead. But where was the father duck at a time he was needed most? Poor Greencap some days before had run into that period so trying for wild birds—the molt. He was shedding his feathers and, feeling decidedly off color, had crept into the bushes to hide. His wing feathers were gone and he could scarcely fly at all.
Suddenly a hush of fear seemed to fall on all the little wild creatures that made their homes near the shores of the lake. There was a sage scream heard overheard, and like a bolt from the clouds a mighty falcon struck the water with a fury that sent up a great shower of spray.
He had hit the very spot where mother duck and her brood were but a moment before. The little ones had dived, but not mother duck. Flapping across the water as if she had a broken wing, she sought to attract the great enemy away from her little brood. The big hawk wheeled and was after her like a shot. Again he struck the water, but Greyleaf had dived, only to come up a short distance away. Again the falcon was after her, and again she dived.
The great bird hovered only a few feet from the surface of the water, waiting for her to rise. Again and again he lashed at her, and again and again the brave little mother disappeared only to rise again. But the great bird of prey knew what he was doing. Greyleaf’s lungs were giving out. He was slowly drowning her. Soon she must rise and fly for her life, and become an easy prey to her enemy.
It looked as if the end was in sight for the brave little Greyleaf; her strength was failing.
But then as the fisherman watched, he saw another bird flying across the lake. It seemed to stagger and stumble in mid-air, as if it could hardly keep up. It was Greencap. His wing feathers were but half-formed, but his courage never failed.
Just as the great bird of prey was about to strike a final blow at poor exhausted Greyleaf, Greencap struck his enemy head-on in mid-air. There was a tremendous thud and a great cloud of feathers as both birds plopped into the lake.
It was all over in a moment. Greencap floated on the water, quacking defiantly. The great hawk was thoroughly defeated. Soaking wet, it was all he could do to flop his way slowly across the surface of the water to the shore; and there he stood a long while, all wet and miserable-looking.
As I read this story and thought of the heroism to be found in the little wild creatures that God has made, how that they will risk their lives to protect their young, I thought how much more wonderful is the love of Him who came from heaven to save poor sinners from the great enemy of God and man.
The Bible tells us that Satan is “the prince of the power of the air,” who takes captive boys and girls, men and women, who cannot save themselves. The Lord Jesus came into this world as Man and met the full power of our great enemy, the devil and ruiner of souls. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:88He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8).
He rose from the dead, the mighty conqueror of death and the grave. And now all who trust in Him are set free from Satan’s power, free from fear of death, free from the judgment of God against their sins. Now they share His triumphs and join in the song of praise to Him who loves us and gave Himself for us.
Dear reader, how is it with you? Have you trusted Him yet? Are you set free? Are you safe in Christ?
— Adapted from H. M. Batten.
ML-06/26/1966