The Lowly Earthworm

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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This verse from the Bible speaks of a time when the enemies of the Lord will try to hide from His judgment. No words describe them better than "like worms of the earth."
Although they are a very important part of God's creation, many people think earthworms are good only for fish bait, which is why they are also known as angleworms. But they are much more important than this, as we shall see. Hidden in the ground there may be 50,000 or more of them in an acre of rich, moist soil. They come to the surface only when it's moist to pick up old leaves, blades of grass, etc., rolling them tightly and taking them down their tunnels for future food.
Let's take a close look at one. If healthy it will be plump and pink-red in color. Its body, tapered at both ends, will be slightly moist, and it may have a collar around it in which eggs are carried before slipping off to hatch underground. If we could see inside this worm with a microscope we would discover as many as ten hearts. Perhaps the reason for so many is this-if a worm is cut in two, each piece will soon form a whole new worm. We also would find its tiny mouth and the 120 segments of its body with about 1000 little bristles underneath, that act like the scales of a snake, enabling it to move through the soil. We would see that it has no eyes, ears or nose, not needing these because it is guided by vibrations and breathes through its skin. What an amazing little creature God has made and cares for!
In what way are they an important part of God's creation? Principally because they are better tillers of the soil than any plow or piece of equipment used by man. Wriggling through the ground, their soft snouts push the soil into their mouths. As this soil passes through their bodies little bits of food are retained. The rest is carried to the surface. and deposited in little "castings" (now soft and fertile-soil) which fertilize the land. Not only do they serve this important purpose, but their activities loosen the ground, allowing water to penetrate and helping the roots of trees and vegetation to find nourishment below the surface. Don't you agree these things make the earthworm an indispensable gardener and friend to mankind? Some scientists, calling it "nature's plowman," insist it is the world's most valuable and beneficial creature, which could be true.
Does God have a lesson for us in this obscure and despised creature? Yes, the Bible tells us, "base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen... that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Cor. 1:28,2928And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:28‑29). We learn from this Bible verse that we do not come to God through a brilliant intellect and that the most simple person may by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior prove to be wiser than one whom the world considers to be its most outstanding person. Are you one who trusts in Him through this simple but precious faith?