God’s Plan

According to the US Department of Agriculture, “Fire ants are annoying and sometimes dangerous pests throughout the southeastern United States. ARS scientists and collaborators are conducting regional integrated pest-management programs to spread the use of the latest control technologies."

According to the Texas A&M University site, the second pest-management item on their list of Management Options is:  “Ant mounds can be shoveled out of the garden or treated with very hot water, taking care not to disturb or treat the garden plants.”

Working along the sidewalk, clearing weeds out of a small garden area, I found an active mound and spent an hour or so boiling water and pouring it into the ground in attempt to kill these dangerous pests. Shoveling them to another part of the yard didn’t appear to be a good plan. 

I’m allergic to their venom and their bite causes problems unless I quickly apply Benadryl.

Yet, I know they exist  according to God’s plan, just as other dangerous and deadly creatures that I do not wish to spend time thinking about.  God is the creator, these creatures are here, therefore they are part of His plan for this world.  As with many other dangers that befall mankind, I do not know why.  It bothers me at times.  But not enough to blame God.

Eliphaz blamed Job for what had happened, taking both family and material wealth:

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? (Job 4:7 KJV)

Oh, Eliphaz sounded interested and caring when he began:

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. (Job 4:2-3 KJV)

A little bit of praise before he basically says that it has to be Job’s sin that brought about the tragedies, aren’t the innocent and righteous protected by God?

No, they are not – in this world.  The rewards come in the spiritual world God has planned for those who come to Him in obedience and serve in His will.  In this world we know that bad things happen to good people because Christ confirmed what mankind has known from the beginning:

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45 KJV)

And fire ants bite my feet!  Just as the earth shatters here and floods there, freezes where it shouldn’t and doesn’t rain where it should, this world is not for the complacent, just for the meek.

Where do you fit in – with Him, or without?