The picture here shows an OCTOPUS. One was caught in a lobster pot. It is, of course, quite small compared with other specimens found in different parts of the world.
We might well wonder what God had in His mind in creating such awful-looking creatures, but we do know that “all things were created by Him and for Him” (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)). No doubt, they have some important lessons to teach us. Scripture says, “Doth not even nature itself teach you?”
Now it is a remarkable thing, that to man there does not seem to be one attractive feature about the octopus. In the first place, it takes all and gives nothing! How like Satan that is. The younger son we read about in Luke, chapter 15, who turned his back on his father and went away into the far country proved this. As long as he had something to give, he had plenty of friends, but when he had spent all his money, his friends all left him, and it says, “No man gave unto him.” It was then that he realized that even his father’s servants had abundance of bread. Yes! there is abundance with God, all in His heart to give to those who come to Him, realizing their sinful condition, but who, with repentance of heart, turn to the Father.
Now, we have said that the octopus gives nothing. This is true except for one thing. The octopus has the power to produce a black inky substance.
This partly enables the creature to conceal itself by darkening all the water around it, but it also blinds the eyes of its victim. This is another picture of what Satan does, for we read, that “the god of this world (Satan)has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of Christ,... should not shine forth for them.” When men are under the blinding power of Satan, what terrible thoughts they have about God! The gospel is preached that eyes might be opened.
But there is another feature which marks the octopus, and that is, that it has very powerful suckers. Having blinded the eyes of its victim, it would suck it to itself so that it may complete its work of destruction. The power that the octopus thus has of holding its prey, may well be a lesson to us as to the importance of taking the warnings that are given to us. We see how the poor man we read about in the 8th chapter of Luke, who said his name was Legion, was delivered by coming into touch with the Lord Jesus — He who was able to deal with Satan’s power, so that this man was found, “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.”
Now the last feature that we shall consider about the octopus is very important. You would have been very surprised if you had seen how small was the gap in the lobster pot through which the octopus had squeezed. Once it was inside, it spread itself out until it practically filled the pot, but it came in through a very small hole. What a reminder this is of the necessity for our hearts to be filled with the Lord Jesus, and His love, so that the enemy (that is Satan) cannot gain admittance at all.
W.W
ML 10/29/1961