Snake on a Limb

As a game warden for many years, my Daddy knew the river like the back of his hand. He knew when the water was high enough, yet not so high the shoals would be too rough. It was just such a day when my daddy, mother and I were headed down the Kings River. Along the way, daddy shared stories of a big fish “caught right over there”. Or, how he picked up two guys without fishing license in that bend.

As noontime approached, the lunch Mother had packed in the wicker basket began to sound better and better. With his experience, Daddy knew just how long it would take to reach that special picnic place. By noon we were there.

“Mother, I’m going to slowly pull under that low branch. When I do, you reach up, grab it and hang on while I maneuver the boat next to the shore. Then we’ll get out, stretch our legs and eat”, Daddy said.

As the boat slowly moved under the limb, Mother started to reach up.

“STOP!” yelled my Daddy.

Mother pulled her hand back just in time to see a huge snake slithering toward her on the low hanging limb. She screamed; I screamed and Daddy began paddling away from that perfect picnic place. Isn’t that just the way the serpent, Satan, is? He is just waiting in what we think is a perfect place; waiting to strike in a second’s notice.

As children of God, it is our duty to be on the lookout and listen to our Heavenly Father when he calls “STOP!” much as my earthly father had done. As we looked back, the snake, probably frightened by my Daddy’s loud voice and my mother’s shrill scream, had fallen in the water and was swimming away from us as fast as he could.

“Be humble then before god, but resist the devil and you’ll find he’ll run away from you”. James 4:7 Phillips Translation