Fox in the Hen House!

This morning when I arrived at church, I just satin my car for a moment finishing the glass of water I drink on the drive in. I was looking down on the green space between the building and the neighbor’s yard. Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It first looked like a small dog…. maybe a cat… no, it was a fox! It looked fairly young with beautiful red coloring and a big bushy tail. It was happily trotting along then stopped when it saw my car still running with the lights on. It paused for a few moments then turned around and galloped away toward the neighbor’s house.

Foxes don’t have a very good reputation. They are considered a pest or nuisance animal. You’ve heard the statement; “Like a fox in the hen house” haven’t you? Well, foxes are predatory which means for the most part they hunt for their food. Their main diet is small mammals like mice, birds, eggs, and probably a chicken or two! They don’t get a good rap in the Bible either. There is a story in the Old Testament book of Judges where they are mentioned. Samson took 150 pairs of foxes, tied a torch between each pair’s tails, then sent them out into a field to burn down the Philistines’ crops. In the New Testament Jesus called King Herod a fox because he was out to get rid of him.

I read an article on foxes and it said that over the years they have become urbanized. In other words, instead of living away from people, they actual have moved into the neighborhood so to speak. They are capable in living among people and for the most part keep themselves hidden. So, what does this mean for us? Well, aside from learning all about foxes, I see it as a reminder that sin is like a fox. Sometimes it’s cute and trotting across the backyard seemingly harmless. It might even live under the house next door! But most of the time it hunts us down and when we least expect it, it’s in the “hen house” and we have been caught. But the good news is we can bring that sin to God and know that God forgives  and loves us. Then God sends us on our way with a warning, “Watch out for those sneaky foxes...don't let them into your hen house!”

See you Sunday!

Pastor Lu