Snakes are usually thought of as creatures that live on land, but there are many that live in lakes, ponds and even some parts of the ocean. All water snakes are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater a long time, swimming as deep as fifty feet.
Several varieties are in various areas of Canada and the United States. One commonly found in Ohio and Illinois is called the queen. The Graham’s water snake is common in Pennsylvania and north into Canada. Some others include the striped, Clark’s, flat-tailed and red-bellied species. The brown is the longest -up to five feet. These freshwater snakes are not poisonous and are usually harmless. However, if some of the larger ones are stepped on, they can give a painful bite.
There are about fifty species in the ocean waters of the Philippines and Australia, and all are as poisonous as rattlesnakes or other pit vipers. These are usually about three feet long and are rather pretty creatures with a variety of colors and patterns. They often stay in deep water a long time, searching for seafood, but they come to the surface for air after about thirty minutes.
Water snakes may swim in groups of a dozen or more, but sometimes there will be hundreds of them hunting together. Some people make a living by capturing them and selling their skins to tanneries and shoemakers to be made into belts, shoes, handbags and other items.
Strangely, these people don’t wear gloves or special clothing in their work with these poisonous serpents. They swim up behind a snake and grab it tightly behind its head with their right hand. Then they quickly transfer the snake to the other hand in which three or four others may be held, before swimming to a boat where they are quickly killed and stowed away for skinning later.
In the Bible, Satan is referred to as “that old serpent, which is the Devil” (Revelation 20:22And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)) and as “a roaring lion,” as quoted in our opening verse. Satan is described as a serpent because he wants to sneak into our lives with evil thoughts, and like a fierce lion he will harm us in any way he can. He wants to keep us away from the Lord Jesus who loves and cares for us.
In a wonderful contrast, the Lord Jesus is called “the Lamb of God, which [takes] away the sin of the world” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)), and “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)). When Satan tempts you to do anything bad or evil, ask the Lord Jesus to help you to be strong. He promises, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)).
ML-08/22/2004