Credit the Creator

A few nights back my wife Laura was alerted to sounds in the attic.  It is not uncommon to hear birds or critters of some kind scamper over roof tiles in the morning, but this was different.  After night fell, sounds of scratching, gnawing and squeaking could be easily heard just beyond the ceiling.  This was a most unpleasant intrusion and discovery for me.  Spring is mating season for rats and mice that forage for food and seek out nesting areas, and my attic is not a place I want them to be.  So I called an exterminator to inspect the attic and property, begin treatment, and see if there were any concerns or red flags I ought to address.  Everything looked in order, so it appears there isn't an infestation or serious problem.

Over the days between hearing the noise of unknown rodent(s) and the pest control guy inspecting the property, I had time to think and pray about the situation.  I realise the way houses and roofing are constructed in Sydney it is nigh impossible to prevent persistent mice or rats from finding their way inside.  All mice need is a 1-2cm gap to enter, and rats can squeeze through a 3cm gap--a weephole in the brickwork or a small space between a roof tile and rain gutter is all they need to climb into a house or work their way into the attic.  They can chew through rubber insulation and worm their way into a structure through a conduit.  It doesn't take long for pests to do damage and spread filth around, and it is quite a chore to methodically climb through trusses and find nesting areas.  All this was going through my mind as I could hear the thing gnawing away in the dark.

Then it struck me that I don't give God nearly the credit He deserves to be able to intervene when it comes to wildlife in the attic.  God caused all the animals to come to Noah after the ark was built and enter it two by two, a male with his female (Genesis 6:9).  The God of Israel plagued Egypt with flies, frogs, lice and locusts.  At the command of God these pests came in immense numbers, and at His command they died out quickly.  My God is the sovereign LORD who plagued the Philistines with rodents after they took the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in the temple of Dagon.  Wherever the Ark was carried, a plague of rats ensued over the following 7 months.   God caused ravens to bring the prophet Elijah bread and meat every morning and evening until the brook dried up and God told him to move on (1 Kings 17:6).  God said dogs would eat the bodies of Ahab's house who died in the city, and His word came to pass after Queen Jezebel was thrown down (1 Kings 21:23-24).  When Herod was lifted up with pride, God brought an end to his life by worms (of all things!) as Acts 12:23 says:  "Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died."

The God who has created the earth and all living things in it is fully aware and able to help when it comes to rodents in the attic, pesky ants in the kitchen, or even with a troublesome case of lice.  While there are things we can do to fix gaps in walls and work to prevent pest infestations, let us be those who cast our cares on the LORD and give Him all credit and confidence to help us in our time of need and resolve our problems better than a local pest expert.  We are not at the mercy of creatures but our Creator who loves us and is able to protect us from harm.  The God who shut the mouths of lions from biting and eating Daniel can prevent mice or rats from gnawing on wires and ducts.  The LORD who drove out the Canaanites with hornets can send them away from those who cry out to Him.  Isn't our God and Creator glorious?