Hi
,
Several days ago, I was using a string trimmer along the walkway that passes our property, and whacked straight into a yellow jacket nest that I obviously didn't know was there. I paid for that mistake with at least 5 stings! They, in turn, paid for that when I retaliated!
This is not the first time I've been stung by a wasp or hornet. But this recent experience got me thinking about all the insects that can sting. And I'm specifically thinking of those that have stingers at the back end of their abdomens (as opposed to creatures like mosquitos that sting in a different way). Virtually all of these pack a very painful sting, but unless a human is allergic to the venom, it's
not fatal.
What is the purpose of the sting? Primarily, it's for defense and also to subdue prey (for those that are "meat eaters!"). But, it begs the question - WHEN did these guys get the capability to sting? And, if they had it right at the beginning (if they were created with it), then what was the purpose before the fall? The creatures would not have been eating each other, nor would they have needed it for defense.
Could it have been useful in some other way? - like a spider's venom is primarily used for breaking down solids so that it can eat. Could the venom generated by a needle at the back of a wasp have served another purpose? We don't know.
But, what we DO know is that when God cursed the serpent, He said to it, "....cursed are you ABOVE all cattle (livestock) and every beast of the field..." (Gen. 3:14). This seems to indicate that the curse had various negative effects on all the creatures on Earth. Did God put the stingers in at that time? - or, did He simply modify, through the curse, what these insect-borne hypodermic needles
would now do?
I guess we'll find out one day! In the meantime, click on the button below to see how I got my revenge!!!
