Fox
Children's sermon
Learning From the Lizard
Bible Animal Object Lessons
Object:
Amazing Ability To Adapt
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:57-58 NRSV).
With very good reason the dictionary includes these words to define a fox: "noted for craftiness ... a sly cunning fellow." Few animals show more wit or wisdom when it comes to hunting and survival. Despite being hunted, trapped, and poisoned, the fox continues in abundance as a real survivor. They have even adapted to survival within large cities.
Fox hunters can attest to the craftiness of the fox. In order to fool the hounds and to make tracking impossible, they run in stream beds or on the frozen river ice. Using unusual skill, they have been known to tread on thin ice deliberately, which supports them but not the hounds in pursuit. In England they may run away by staying on top of a stone wall. And on occasion in a formal fox hunt with hounds and horses, they have been known suddenly to race directly into the approaching pack, the hounds turning around in pursuit running into the horses and causing mass confusion!
The verses given from Luke 9:57-58 are significant reminders that he who was in the beginning with God at the time of creation provided for others and for nature, but during his earthly ministry had no home of his own!
Another passage brings to mind the keen hearing of a fox:
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.' "
-- Luke 13:32 NRSV
A fox has a keen sense of hearing, and in the case of Herod, he was hearing too much, fearing that he might lose some power and popularity to Jesus. A fox, in fact, is so sensitive in hearing that what a man can hear at 175 yards a fox can easily hear at a mile.
The fox is a very beautiful animal whose pelts are highly prized. Some red foxes have an interesting "cross" marking on their backs. A dark brown stripe of hair runs the length of the back and is crossed by another dark stripe across the shoulder. In legend this has been linked to the story of Sampson in Judges 15:4-5 where foxes are caught and used to set fire to the enemy's grain fields, resulting, of course, in the foxes being scorched.
The Song of Solomon (2:15) talks about the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. The diet of foxes does consist of mice and ground squirrels, insects, fruit, and other similar food. Though occasionally they catch poultry, they prove their worth by the millions of mice and other ground rodents they catch each year.
Yes, the fox is one of God's cunning creatures!
Lessons From The Fox
Unfortunately, some types of wildlife are endangered or even completely extinct because civilization has taken their habitat. Foxes with their adaptability can make changes and adjust. In the changes we constantly face God can give us the wisdom to make the changes that are in keeping with his will, changes that enable us to survive the testing times.
Prayer
Lord God, you have reminded us to be "wise as serpents and as harmless as doves." May we be crafty and wise when we must be, in our service of you. May we see your purpose in "all things bright and beautiful, in all creatures great and small." Thank you that our Lord Jesus, though homeless during most of his ministry, provides for us now, and in his grace provides a heavenly home. Praise be to you our God! Amen!
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:57-58 NRSV).
With very good reason the dictionary includes these words to define a fox: "noted for craftiness ... a sly cunning fellow." Few animals show more wit or wisdom when it comes to hunting and survival. Despite being hunted, trapped, and poisoned, the fox continues in abundance as a real survivor. They have even adapted to survival within large cities.
Fox hunters can attest to the craftiness of the fox. In order to fool the hounds and to make tracking impossible, they run in stream beds or on the frozen river ice. Using unusual skill, they have been known to tread on thin ice deliberately, which supports them but not the hounds in pursuit. In England they may run away by staying on top of a stone wall. And on occasion in a formal fox hunt with hounds and horses, they have been known suddenly to race directly into the approaching pack, the hounds turning around in pursuit running into the horses and causing mass confusion!
The verses given from Luke 9:57-58 are significant reminders that he who was in the beginning with God at the time of creation provided for others and for nature, but during his earthly ministry had no home of his own!
Another passage brings to mind the keen hearing of a fox:
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.' "
-- Luke 13:32 NRSV
A fox has a keen sense of hearing, and in the case of Herod, he was hearing too much, fearing that he might lose some power and popularity to Jesus. A fox, in fact, is so sensitive in hearing that what a man can hear at 175 yards a fox can easily hear at a mile.
The fox is a very beautiful animal whose pelts are highly prized. Some red foxes have an interesting "cross" marking on their backs. A dark brown stripe of hair runs the length of the back and is crossed by another dark stripe across the shoulder. In legend this has been linked to the story of Sampson in Judges 15:4-5 where foxes are caught and used to set fire to the enemy's grain fields, resulting, of course, in the foxes being scorched.
The Song of Solomon (2:15) talks about the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. The diet of foxes does consist of mice and ground squirrels, insects, fruit, and other similar food. Though occasionally they catch poultry, they prove their worth by the millions of mice and other ground rodents they catch each year.
Yes, the fox is one of God's cunning creatures!
Lessons From The Fox
Unfortunately, some types of wildlife are endangered or even completely extinct because civilization has taken their habitat. Foxes with their adaptability can make changes and adjust. In the changes we constantly face God can give us the wisdom to make the changes that are in keeping with his will, changes that enable us to survive the testing times.
Prayer
Lord God, you have reminded us to be "wise as serpents and as harmless as doves." May we be crafty and wise when we must be, in our service of you. May we see your purpose in "all things bright and beautiful, in all creatures great and small." Thank you that our Lord Jesus, though homeless during most of his ministry, provides for us now, and in his grace provides a heavenly home. Praise be to you our God! Amen!
