Snakes live in every part of the world except icy areas. Of the nearly 3000 varieties, the longest is a python, which may grow over 30 feet long. An interesting contrast is the thread snake, which is only about four inches long. The heaviest of all is the anaconda, which may weigh 500 pounds.
Snakes never close their eyes, even at night. This is because they have no eyelids. Transparent scales protect their eyes. Something else interesting is that they shed their outside skin several times a year. Snakes grow, but their skins do not. As their skin becomes too tight, they rub their heads back and forth against something hard until the skin splits open. Then they wiggle out of it from head to tail, turning it inside out and leaving it behind in one complete piece. Coming across one of these snakeskins in the woods might startle you, for it can look very lifelike.
Many snakes make their homes underground, but some hide under piles of dead leaves or in deep grass, and a few others prefer living in trees or in the wetness of swampy places. The Creator has given them extremely flexible bodies, composed of strong ribs almost their entire length.
Many snakes are harmless, but others are poisonous, and some, the boa constrictor for one, can wrap itself around a person and squeeze him to death. This is rare since almost all snakes try to hide from an approaching person.
Snakes are usually referred to in the Bible as an evil thing. Because Satan appeared in the form of a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve, he is later referred to as “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)). In Genesis 3:1414And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (Genesis 3:14) when the first man and woman were tempted by Satan and committed the first sin, God cursed the serpent to spend its life crawling on the ground. Perhaps before that it walked upright, like people do, or on four legs, like a dog. We don’t know, but every time you see a snake on the ground, you can remember that what God says, happens.
All snakes are a part of God’s creation and exhibit God-given wisdom in making their way through life. It is in that respect that the Bible tells us, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:1616Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)). This God-given instruction is important for us to follow if we want to stay out of trouble and please our Father, God, who is always watching us.
In the next issue we will take a detailed look at a few outstanding snakes.
(to be continued)
Messages of God’s Love 1/8/2023