God And The Spider
God can use anything He chooses to help us in times of need because He knows just what our needs are. We may wonder how a little spider can help, but with trust in God, that little spider can be a big help.
During World War 1, a United States marine was separated from his unit. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades and could not see them anywhere.
Alone in the hills, he heard some enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for a place to hide, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of those caves. He was safe for the moment, but shortly he realized that once the enemy soldiers who were looking for him climbed up the ridge, they would quickly search all of the caves, and they would be sure to find him.
As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be Your will, please protect me. I accept whatever is Your will though, because I love You and trust You. Amen.”
After praying, he lay quietly, listening to the enemy beginning to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.” Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.
As he watched, listening to the enemy soldiers who were searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.
“Ha,” he laughed to himself. “What I need is a brick wall, and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.”
As the enemy drew closer, he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. “Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in You a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.”
We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is very easy to forget the victories that God willingly works in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, “The God of heaven will give us success!” (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV.) Remember, whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider’s web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is always with you. Just speak His name through Jesus His Son, and you will see His great power and love in your life.
In I Samuel 24 is recorded a story about David, who also hid himself in a cave so King Saul would not find him. God is able to protect us in ways that we know not—so trust in Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.