Oh those flies! What an awful problem they were! The ceiling of the barn was black with them. They were all over the cattle, but the flies on the cows’ faces were the worst. The flies would land in the filth of the manure piles, then come with their germ-laden bodies and cling to the faces of the animals, especially around their eyes. The cows’ eyes would become infected and that would attract more flies. They almost drove the cattle crazy.
The cows would rub against the rough wood of their stalls or against the fences to scratch the flies off their bodies. Often they would rub so hard they would break the skin, and the flies would infect the sores. They were constantly swishing their tails and stamping their feet to chase away the flies, but the flies just kept coming. The poor little calves were so bothered and nervous they didn’t eat properly or gain weight as they should.
Then the farmer found a remedy.
Flies mentioned in the Bible are a picture to us of sin. Exodus 8:24 tells us that when the Lord God sent swarms of flies into all the land of Egypt, the land was polluted and spoiled by them. And our sins spoil us too.
But God has a remedy. He sent His own beloved Son to bear our sins on the cross, and now “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
Cows love to lick salt, and the remedy the farmer found was a special salt with medicine in it that would go all through the cows’ bodies. Then, when the flies bit the cows, the medicine killed the flies. Soon the cattle were free from flies. They were able to rest contentedly in the fields and grow strong and healthy.
Salt is often spoken of in the Bible. It preserves and helps in healing. When the cows licked the salt they got the medicine all through them, and we need to feed on the Lord Jesus and have Him truly and thoroughly in our hearts and lives. Then our lives will help others. Matthew 5:13 says, “If the salt have lost his savor [saltiness] . . . it is . . . good for nothing.” We must be real! We cannot pretend with God. We cannot walk with Him and have our sins too. The Lord Jesus is God’s remedy for our sins. Tell Him from your heart that you are a sinner and that you need His blood to wash your sins away, and then He will guide you in every step you take. Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise [no way] cast out.” John 6:37.
“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Revelation 1:5.
ML-10/03/1993