Why the Wasp?

“I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you” (Exodus 23:28-33).

Wasp vs. Hornet: 

The major difference between wasp and hornets is found in size and color. Wasps tend to be about one centimeter long and hornets are two and one-half centimeters. Wasps have black and yellow rings, while hornets have black and white rings.

Why would God allow wasps, hornets, mosquitoes and other pesky insects to trouble our world? We don’t know all the reasons why God does what He does but we do have the opportunity to explore (through observational science) the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. AND we also can ask those questions which allow us to plunge deeper into (Romans 1:18-21) His divine [hidden] nature as it is revealed in created things – including wasps. 

Here are some things that we do know: there are certain wasps that actually help figs (a fruit from Jesus’ day) to grow and mature. They also have a sting or venom that keeps certain pests at bay; that sting may also keep you from getting near them.

But here is something interesting that some scientists at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom discovered. The venom of certain wasps contains a product that is called MP1. The toxin in this venom kills cancer cells and leaves normal body cells alone. It seems that God has once again displayed His wisdom and intelligence in nature and allows us to see it so that we can rejoice in Him more and more.

Thank God for wasps and their venom; thank God that He designed this creature to help us with problems like cancer. Even in a broken world, God is good and gracious. He still shines His love on us, despite the difficulties we face everyday. Let’s continue to praise Him and look at His creation in order to marvel at how good He is.

God bless your day!