In past issues we have considered many animals and birds that are attractive, interesting and that have helpful habits. But this is not true of all creatures even though all are a part of God’s creation. Among those that are not helpful or attractive we must include rats, which outnumber human beings on the earth — there are 100 million of them in North America alone. It is no wonder there are so many since a mother rat can have as many as 80 babies in one year! When these are three or four months old they begin raising families of their own. If all these rats lived, there would be millions of descendants in two or three years’ time, just starting from one pair! But the Creator does not allow this to happen.
Rats are related to mice and are similar in many ways except for size. Although seldom seen in daylight, many make their homes in houses, barns and other buildings, because being near humans means there will be plenty of food and shelter available. They also like to get aboard ships and this spreads them around the world, which is how unwanted, disease-infested rats got into the Americas in the first place. Have you ever noticed that large ships are tied to docks by big ropes which pass through round metal plates? The purpose of those shields is to keep rats and mice from climbing up the ropes, but some still manage to get aboard.
Except perhaps for the white rats used in medical laboratories, there’s not much good that can be said about rats. Not only do they spread disease, they consume great quantities of food — one rat alone can eat 25 pounds of grain or corn in a year’s time, taking it from farmers’ fields, storage bins and kitchen pantries. Multiply this by hundreds of millions of them and it gives you an idea of how much food they consume that might have been put to good use for hungry people. In fact, they are the cause of famines in many places. In addition to grains and seeds, many are fond of nuts, fruit, eggs, fish, vegetables, chickens and many other kinds of food. They will go after almost anything edible, often spoiling more than they eat.
Perhaps rats are allowed to be so plentiful and such a nuisance to provide us with a solemn lesson. They remind us of that which is destructive, creating nothing good themselves and bringing harm to others. What a contrast this is to what the Bible says should be the character of those who love the Lord: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Ephesians 2:8,108For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10).
When we consider His desire that we should show good works in our lives, our daily prayer should be, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God.” Psalms 17:5,65Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. 6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. (Psalm 17:5‑6).
(to be continued)
ML-12/15/1985