Warning!

Warning! This post is not suitable for some readers! Especially those who are adverse to stinging insects. I about to share another true story from the ranch, so get a good grip on something solid, and read on.

It was several years ago. We were adding a new section of fence by our county road, to keep the cows on our property. One spot has some lovely Gamble Oak trees. We had to cut some of the limbs that were overhanging where the fence would be. We were using a hand saw to do the job. So I’m holding onto the branches while my husband is sawing. All of a sudden, he is screaming at the top of his lungs, “AAAAAAA! RUN!” From a hole in the earth, a swarm of ground wasps poured forth. It looked a bit like lava erupting out of a volcano. We were on a bit of a sloped hill, so turning and running proved to be a challenge, but we got it done. And we got it done quickly. We did not pause to pick up our tools, we just left every thing behind and ran.

Sadly, as my husband was closer, he got stung. On his earlobe, a few on his arms, and then one was inside his glove and stung him in the hand! I was lucky, as I had been standing further back, so did not get a single sting.

We did not go back to get those tools until we had many cans of wasp killer spray in our arsenal.. Even then, we had long sleeve shirts on as he sprayed each can into the orifice in the ground. Then we waited a few days, and did it again. After a week passed by, we were able to go and finish the job. Even now when we walk the fence to check for breaks, we keep a healthy distance from that section.

So I did some checking on these ground wasps.

Sphex funerarius can reach a length of anywhere from a half an inch to an inch long. These large, ground-nesting wasps are black with an orange-red large band on the anterior abdomen. (I wouldn’t really know, I did not stick around long enough to see what they looked like.) On the head and the body there is fine and thin hair. Their wings are yellowish with darkened tops of the front wings.

The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry to the underground nest. The females of these digger wasps store several grasshoppers in a nest. They dig a long corridor, with various brood chambers, in each of which one prey is stored with an egg. After three to four days, the eggs hatch and after another 18 days, the larvae are fully grown. Adults fly in July and August.

Yup, you guessed it we were doing that job in late July.

So when I was listening to a sermon about God sending hornets ahead to drive out the inhabitants of the lands, I knew exactly how those people felt! With swarms of hornets coming at you, you scream, “AAAAAAA! RUN!” You don’t stop to pack a bag with clothes, a basket with your lunch, or anything. You just run and don’t come back.

The Lord told the Israelites that he was going bring them into the Promised Land and help them destroy the nations that lived there. He told them not to be afraid of these nations, He would help take care of them.

“I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you.” (Ex. 23:28)

“Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish.” (Deut. 7:20) (Really? Some of them stayed behind and hid?)

Then when Joshua was leading them, the Lord told him, “I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow.” (Josh. 24:12)
This time they didn’t even have to fight, God did all the work, and gave them the victory. He told them, “I gave you land you had not worked for and cities you did not build—these cities where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.” (Josh 24:13)

Why? Because the people ran away from the hornets and left everything behind! Because God can do anything! He is the One who created everything and can use it to help you in ways you never would have expected or imagined, in order to bless you with His unlimited abundance.

So don’t worry or stress. God can help you too. I mean, if He wants to use hornets or ground wasps, well that is His right, after all He is God. But after living through it myself, I would not wish that on my worst enemy. I’m just saying! (Okay, well to be honest, there might be one or two I could think of!)

© 2021 Fluffy Puppy Publishing All Right Reserved