Daily Devotions
Average reading time is about 5 and a half minutes
AN AMAZING FACT: There are over 300,000 different species of beetles in the world, but among them the bombardier beetle has been created with one of the most incredible defense systems in the natural world. Whenever threatened by an enemy attack from ants, frogs, or spiders, this spirited little beetle shoots a jet of boiling chemicals and irritating, foul-smelling gases at its attacker. This toxic spray explodes from two tail pipes on the tip of its abdomen, right into the face of the unfortunate aggressor.
With some bombardier beetles you can actually hear the explosion as a loud popping, which is a result of rapid firing. This rapid-fire action is called “pulse combustion” and jets the boiling liquid out at over 500 pulses per second and 212 degrees Fahrenheit! In addition, the beetle can rotate the end of its abdomen 270 degrees in any direction like a tiny cannon and hit the target with extreme accuracy.
Scientists and chemists have studied the bombardier beetle and learned that he makes his explosive by mixing together two very volatile chemicals—hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide. In addition to these two chemicals, this clever little beetle adds another type of chemical known as an inhibitor. The inhibitor enables the beetle to store the chemicals indefinitely without blowing itself up. Whenever our beetle friend is approached by a predator, he squirts the stored chemicals into the two combustion tubes and, at the same moment, he adds another chemical—an anti-inhibitor. This knocks out the inhibitor, and a violent explosion occurs, scorching the poor attacker. But somehow the beetle is not bothered by the heat and irritation that comes from its own spray.
It is preposterous to believe that such a marvelous and complex mechanism could have evolved piecemeal over millions of years. This would require thousands of generations of these little beetles blowing themselves to pieces until finally they mastered their explosive gift.
Did you know those who mix prayer and Bible study can expect explosive power? The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and powerful …” (Hebrews 4:12). And the Lord promises those who love Him, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him” (Psalm 91:15). Wouldn’t you like to be answered by the God of the universe, and experience the power of His Word in your life today?
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2 Corinthians 6:7
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