The furry pika measures about seven inches long and weighs about eight ounces. This energetic little animal is a relative of hares and rabbits and is sometimes called a coney. In North America it is found only among the rocks high in the mountains of the western United States and Canada.
The pika’s outstanding feature is its busy activity in the summer months. It wisely prepares food for use in winter, when the snow will lie deep and it must stay in its den with its family. Unlike many mountain animals, it does not hibernate but does remain quite inactive during the cold season.
While cutting and gathering plants, flowers, berries, aspen leaves and other vegetation in summer and fall, the pika is constantly in motion. God has provided this rodent with four incisor teeth to do all this work. A lot of food is necessary, because one little pika family will need about fifty pounds of dried food during the cold winter days while confined inside the den.
Everything it cuts or gathers is brought to the entrance of the pika’s den, and, like a farmer preparing hay, it is piled in separate mounds in the sunshine to dry in the clear mountain air. When rain threatens, it carefully picks up these piles and carries them inside, bringing them back out for further drying when the sun is shining again.
Where did this little animal get such wisdom? And how does it know how to store its food underground so it will not mildew or rot? This wisdom is given to it by God who, in creating everything “after his kind,” has provided for its unique way of life. This is passed down from generation to generation, without the need of lessons or experiments. If it didn’t know how to do this, it would die the very first winter of its life. The Creator watches over everything He has made and provides for the needs of each one in His own wise way.
Living so far from civilization, the pika is much like the coney spoken of in Proverbs 30:2626The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; (Proverbs 30:26) - “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make their houses in the rocks.” Eagles, hawks and many animals are enemies of this quiet little fellow, but when sheltered by the rocks into which he hurries when they come close, he is perfectly safe.
When David was delivered from his enemies, he said, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my Rock; in Him will I trust” (2 Samuel 22:2323For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. (2 Samuel 22:23)). He is the only refuge from Satan, our dread enemy. Do you know the Lord as the Rock of your salvation?
ML-06/22/2003