His (or her) name derives from two Latin words. “Porcus” means “pig” in that ancient tongue. And “spine” means “thorn!” An animal that has a pig-like shape and can wound an attacker with his thorns, spears, quills!

The little creature has around 30,00 of those sharp things, weapons! (And contrary to popular opinion, he cannot shoot them through the air!) But if he can get his predator behind him, he has the ability to “back up” both rapidly and forcefully into his enemy! (I am told even a tiger is hesitant to harm the porcupine!)

Whereupon (on impact) those little quills stick into the dog (or whatever) and loosen themselves from the porcupine! (Don’t worry, the little fellow can grow them back relatively quickly!)

I said “little” quills! Some of them are up to 15 inches long! And they are (our amazing Creator at work) built with tiny “blades” all over them! Razor sharp to cut into an attacker’s face deeper and deeper. Can you imagine the pain as the predator tries to rub these (double-edged, triple-edged, multi-edged) spears away! Deeper and deeper they go!

Myriads of accounts tell of those quills setting up infection in the enemy coyote (etc.) and leading to its death!

But, as we all know, some ill-advised animals attack anyway! But few succeed!

Any creature seeking to kill a porcupine … such a scenario reminds me of a verse of Scripture. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3

Let the wise beware!

I thought too about us Christians who also have a double-edged, sharp Sword with which to lunge at the devil! Yes, the Word of God! (“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.” Hebrews 4:12)

Yes, dear reader, God’s creation does exhibit His awesome Wisdom and Power and Glory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Furthermore, porcupines can climb trees, but are mostly ground animals. They are even good swimmers, if need be! And they are rodents, living up to 7 years in the wild! They can weigh up to 35 pounds, lots of quill-space! They eat leaves, plants, fruit, and even the tender layer of tissue beneath the bark of trees.

Truly, creation points to the Creator!

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“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind …” Genesis 1:25

Yes, God created even gorillas!

An adult male can reach a height of nearly 6 feet! And he is apt to weigh up to 450 pounds!

Their lifespans are surprising too. In captivity up to 60 years! And strength? Up to 10 times that of a healthy man!

They are rather peaceful animals, too. Almost shy, some experts say.

Their diet? Mostly vegetarian, from bananas to various types of “greens.”

And Mr. Gorilla is a family man, loving to live gregariously with his mate and “young.” She only reproduces every 2-3 years, on average. Some species, every 7-8 years!

Gorilla can walk on two legs, but most often progress on all “fours.”

Did I mention they love to live (of course) in the forests of Africa and Asia. Lots of tree surrounding them?

But of all the impressive facts we can learn, the gorilla is still not a brilliant animal.

If provoked, he might charge a fully armed hunter … with absolutely no thought of danger!

In that, in his mental capabilities, the gorilla is far “below” mankind.

Stronger?

Yes!

Wiser?

Hardly!

Not if the man has a Bible in his hand, and in his heart!

In God’s estimation, it is not physical strength that “counts” as much as spiritual prowess.

Like Proverbs 24:5 teaches us discerning humans … “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.”

Oh, let’s ask God for more and more Wisdom to serve Him better. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5, something gorillas cannot do!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I have always been amazed at the fact that God, when responding to Job’s multi-month (or longer) sufferings, never gave the godly old Patriarch an explanation!

God merely gave Job a verbal tour of His “Creation,” especially the animals! As if considering God’s Power and Glory as seen via His “works” might cause a lot of “life” to fall into place, to make sense!

(My favorite animal that God discussed with Job is the magnificent “horse,” more specifically the “war horse” it seems!)

According to Romans 1:20 … “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead …”

Along that line, creation revealing certain aspects of the Creator … did you know?

The octopus can lose an arm … and then grow another one! (Humans do not have that capability!)

Some insects can sleep (hibernate) as long as 17 years, and then wake up right on “cue!”

The cheetah (cat) can run at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour! (And some birds fly even faster!)

For the next few lessons, I would like to present to you a few of God’s amazing creatures.

They will be a “testimony” to the Power of God, the Wisdom of God, and (of course) the creativity of God!

We will be obeying Job 12:7-8 in the process …

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.”

Wow!

Sounds exciting!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I give up!

I think I am in a Line of Thought that is quite “over my head!” I mean the SOUL SUFFERINGS of Jesus on the Cross.

Yet the Subject interests me immensely!

And Jesus invited such Inquiry, I believe.

Specifically, in the Garden of Gethsemane … “Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.” Matthew 26:38

See Jesus’ “Invitation?”

To Peter and James and John!

My Soul is in Agony! I must bear This Load (our Sin Debt) Alone!

But I “ask you,” perhaps even “need you” to WATCH WITH ME!

That’s exactly what I have been trying to do (with you) these past few Lessons, Devotionals!

WATCH WITH JESUS … HIS SOUL SUFFERINGS ON THE CROSS!

I have learned things, and I trust you have as well.

Perhaps this is the place (and time) to pray that precious Petition the Psalmist taught us long ago. It’s always appropriate when we are in Scripture that’s “over our heads!”

Dear Lord … “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18

An old hymn says it well … “More About Jesus I Would Know.”

“More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fulness see, More of His love who died for me.”

But this I do know and constantly stand in awe … WHAT A SAVIOUR!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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When I decided to share a few thoughts about our Lord’s suffering on Calvary, in addition to His physical trauma and pain … I thought the Old Testament would be the “seedbed” of my thoughts.

But I’m learning that the New Testament too focuses on this part of Jesus’ Cross! Here’s part of what I mean …

Matthew 26:37-38 … “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My SOUL (capitalized intentionally, for emphasis) is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Here His “SOUL” is mentioned, not specifically His Body.

Again, no human can fathom the depths of that Fact, “Jesus Suffering in His Spirit” on the old, rugged Cross! In His “Soul.”

But this we do know. On the Cross Jesus “took our place” dying “in our stead.” Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:21 actually says so. (Look it up.)

And as such, as our “sin Bearer” (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus endured the penalty, the agony, the suffering our very souls would have endured had we died lost and undone!

Which is?

“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness (in other words, to sinners), indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish (which Jesus suffered for us), upon every SOUL of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Romans 2:8-9, He endured my “soul suffering” for me!

I merely suggest this is MORE, and likely VERY MUCH MORE, than His physical pain alone.

An old Puritan writer penned this thought …

“My body is not a body, when my soul has forsaken it.” (It obviously decomposes.) Then he continues, “But my soul will remain a soul when this body has crumbled to dust.”

The importance of the soul!

Jesus died on the Cross, the wages of sin being just that, death. He died in body, in soul and in spirit. Just as Adam died (eventually) because of his sin … just as Adam died in soul, spirit and body!

Another old Puritan said …

“Christ’s soul sufferings were the soul of His sufferings.” Simple in a way, but so profound!

I would not be surprised to learn when we get to Heaven that Jesus’ Soul Sufferings were the very Centerpiece of His Agony in becoming our Redeemer.

More next lesson, Lord willing.

Ponder these thoughts!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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