Almost everyone likes squirrels for they are lively, busy and entertaining. There are over 80 varieties throughout the world, mostly tree-dwellers. But for now let’s look at just one—the round-tailed ground squirrel.
These are quiet little animals, about six inches long, that live in the hot, dry deserts where few other animals can live. Unlike their bushy-tailed cousins that live in trees, they are plain looking with long, round tails. Their fur is light brown, soft and smooth and kept clean by frequent licking, just like cats clean their fur.
As the Lord God has done for all His creatures, the ground squirrels are well-fitted to get along in their surroundings. Their legs are long with broad feet ending in sharp, tough claws. Special hairy soles help them move over loose sand. Equipped like this their front feet can dig tunnels rapidly, about a foot deep, with their back feet kicking out the sand or soil that accumulates.
When an enemy appears, such as a hawk, coyote, fox or snake, our little friend scurries into the nearest available hole, even if it belongs to another animal. As it scurries it lets out sharp squeals, and the whole colony takes shelter.
Little ones (sometimes a dozen of them) are born in March or April. Growing rapidly, they soon leave the underground nest to live their own life in the desert, just as the Creator has provided for them.
At the start of winter, the fat, plump round-tailed ground squirrel hibernates in its underground home, curling itself into a ball with its rope-like tail curled over its body. If you could see this you might think it was dead. But this winter sleep of several months, without needing food or water, is the Creator’s way of taking care of it when it would otherwise die from the cold and lack of food. In the spring they awaken and soon pop up from their burrows. Now thin and hungry, their main interest is to find food, and they soon fatten up on new plant growth. In fact, they often eat so much that they can barely get back into their burrows.
The Bible tells us we can learn from the animals (see Job 12:77But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: (Job 12:7)). The lesson we can learn from this squirrel is to get away quickly from danger and into a hiding place. The Psalmist said: “Thou [the Lord] art my hiding place.” Psalms 32:77Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalm 32:7). Yes, He is a secure place of safety from the attacks of Satan, who wants to get us into danger and trouble by tempting us with things that are not pleasing to God. The wise instruction of the Bible is, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Proverbs 4:14,1514Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. (Proverbs 4:14‑15).
The only way we can do this is by knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and looking to Him for help. Is He your hiding place?
ML-09/04/1983