“Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them.” Nehemiah 9:6.
Pack rats are found mostly in the wooded areas of western United States and Canada. They are not at all like their cousins, the filthy and mean city rats, (except in appearance). Pack rats are clean and tidy. Being mischievous, they are also called “trade rats,” and here’s the reason why.
When one of these rats sees anything bright or shiny and small enough to carry, it immediately wants it. As a result its nest becomes full of unusual things—pieces of glass, aluminum foil, bottle caps, shotgun shells, etc. But it doesn’t take these things without paying for them in a trade. So if it is prowling in someone’s house and finds a loose wristwatch, piece of jewelry, silver coin, etc., it runs to its nest, picks up something it has been saving, takes it back to the house, and exchanges it for the new treasure. They have been known to chew a bright buckle off a shoe or a pretty pin from a dress, taking them and leaving something in exchange.
When the owner finds a bit of worthless glass, a piece of bark, or perhaps a stone where something valuable had been, what a shock it must be! But it does seem like the pack rat was trying to be honest and fair in making a trade, doesn’t it?
Sometimes they do bring back an item more valuable than what they are taking.
Pack rats build strong nests with two or three rooms, often in trash piles, a deserted barn or cabin, or in trees. These nests are added to each year and may become five or six feet wide and just as high. If available, needle-pointed prickers from cactus are woven into these nests as a defense against coyotes, foxes, dogs and other enemies. Although their feet are bare and their mouths are tender, they never seem to stick themselves when climbing cactus plants or carrying the cactus parts in their mouths. Additional safety is insured by building underground tunnels between rocks or tree roots for a quick escape if threatened while away from home. In these examples we are reminded of the Creator’s special provisions for every one of His creatures, as our opening verse tells us.
Perhaps some of our readers are a little like pack rats, always trying something new in exchange for something they have become tired of. The Lord invites us to just rest in Him and not to keep searching for satisfaction and happiness in the attractive things of this world. In the 28th chapter of the book of Job it says of such searching: “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?” verse 12. “The exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.” verse 17. “God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof.” verse 23. “And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” verse 28. How wise it is to follow His way and not our own!
ML-10/09/1983