The beaver is a very interesting little animal and also a very busy one. Sometimes twenty-five or more beavers live in a beaver pond and all work hard to prepare for winter.
Beavers usually work at night and build their houses of trees, branches and mud near the middle of the pond or in the river bank. They also work to gather food and put it away in their “cupboard.”
While the beavers work steadily, one of them sits on a log for a long, long time and watches and listens carefully. What do you think he is listening for? He is listening to hear the sound of an enemy—perhaps a wolf is walking through the woods looking for something to eat. As soon as the watchful beaver hears a sound he gives a danger signal to all the other beavers. He makes a loud “Whack! Whack! Whack!” sound with his tail by slapping it on the water. As soon as the busy beavers hear this signal they immediately dive into the water of the pond and some swim under the water to their home in the bank and others swim to the house near the middle of the pond where they are quite safe.
This watchful beaver teaches us a lesson, doesn’t he? We also have a fierce enemy, the devil, and we read, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8, 98Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9).
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4: 7.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Matt. 26:4141Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41). So by prayer and reading of the Word and trusting the Lord, believers are shielded against this enemy.
ML 10/04/1953