In the 55+ community where I live
(Southfork) all the streets are lined with trees. While that makes for a
shady walk, it also provides a home for thousands and thousands of
squirrels. Most residents just tolerate them, but a few feed them and
one of them (Bill R.) even traps and relocates them. While they do
remove the seemingly unlimited supply of nuts, they also raise havoc
with bird feeders. This picture from Bruce Arnold has a pretty good
solution. Sometimes you have to be clever when it comes to dealing with a
difficult situation. Here is one example, taken from the pages of the
Old Testament....
2 Samuel, Chapter 10 (WEB)
6 When
the children of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the
children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the
Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with
one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men. 7 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men. 8 The
children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance
of the gate. The Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and
Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 Now
when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he
chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against
the Syrians. 10 The
rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother;
and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 He said, “If
the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the
children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him.” (emp. added vss. 9-12) 13 So Joab and the people who were with him came near to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 When
the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled
before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the
children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
Right
about now, you are asking- "What have these things to do with me"?
Well, Christians today are faced with obstacles that were not an issue
50 or more years ago: Islam, a government hostile to Christians, rampant
atheism being taught in schools and a overall decline in the morality
of our society.
Christians
need to be smart in confronting these and a myriad of other obstacles
that will face them in the coming years. Satan is clever and will use
whatever and whoever he can to destroy us.
Joab and Abishai were creative in facing their enemies and so should we!!!
ps. by the way- I love squirrels!!!
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