Unless you have traveled in northern Europe, Asia, southern and eastern Africa or New Zealand, it is not likely that you have ever seen a wild hedgehog.
There are people in England who make friends with hedgehogs and tame them by setting out food at night, which is when they do their hunting. They usually eat any kind of insect, slug, caterpillar, small mammal or snake they may come across, as well as leaves, nuts, seeds and birds’ eggs. And this is why some people keep them as pets—to get rid of insects and other house pests.
Although when fully grown they are only about nine inches long, the Creator has provided these unusual little animals with an excellent means of protection from harm. Except for their smooth heads, the backs of hedgehogs are covered with a complete armor of sharp, bristly spines, like a porcupine’s, down to their stubby tails. These spines normally lie flat while the hedgehogs are resting or searching for food. But when a dog or other animal threatens them, they roll into round balls, tucking their heads into their chests and drawing their legs up tight, which leaves the sharp spines pointing in every direction. A dog or other creature that is stupid enough to grab this black, prickly ball in its mouth immediately yelps in pain and is left with some of those spines stuck in its mouth, nose or tongue - a rather painful lesson to learn!
Hedgehogs have this name because they make their homes under bushy hedges, hiding there in the daytime and coming out only at night. A male and female pair stay with each other throughout their lives. In nests of woven moss and grass, they raise three or four little ones each year. The young ones’ spines at first are soft and few in number, making them look like young birds. Hedgehogs hibernate in winter, but may come out briefly to search for food and then promptly return to the nest.
These funny little creatures remind us again of the pleasure our Lord, the Creator, had in bringing so many varieties of life into the world. But we read in the Bible that His greatest delights are with men and women, boys and girls. For all who will accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, He has prepared a place in heaven where all will be peace and love, which will be a wonderful change from this world of sin, sickness and death.
Have you heard that wonderful message, “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:1515Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 144:15))? Have you confessed to Him your need of a Saviour and accepted His wonderful promise of eternal life?
ML-12/05/2004