Joshua 24:12,13 I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. I have given you a land for which you did not labour, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.' NKJV
God! On A Vespa?
In the Bible of course, we see God riding a white horse, riding a donkey and even riding on the back of one of the most fantastical of angelic creatures called a Cherub! However, as I sat astride my own motorcycle today, speeding nicely down the road in hot, humid weather, baking and basking in the afternoon sun, the question did occur to me as to what kind of a motorcycle the Lord Jesus Himself might choose to ride if He were to join me today on a road trip?
Most American men would imagine Jesus riding on a black over-chromed Harley, as tough as Arnold Schwarzenegger, wearing cool dark glasses and sporting a black leather jacket, with a large red ‘Heaven’s Angels’ logo emblazoned across the back. Arriving at stop lights He would be shouting warnings of a coming judgment day, and reaching out His hands to passersby and saying, “Come with me if you want to live!” Ha! Most Englishman know that the Lord would not be riding a Harley, but like us, would be sat astride his proud and perfect Triumph! What do I think? Well I actually think God would not ride either of those two mighty motorcycles, but He might just ride a scooter and a Vespa scooter at that!
In Nebraska, it was the Cushman motor company, founded in 1903, who began diversifying from the production of engines for just farm equipment. Yes, diversification was around and was a driving necessity even at the beginning of the 20th Century! So in 1936, this same company also produced the first motor scooter, even selling them as a product line in Sears! Cushman were so successful and their manufactured product so sturdy and reliable, that during the Second World War, not only were thousands of Cushman scooters furnished for the U.S. Army in general, but many were produced solely for use by the airborne regiments! These robust airborne scooters were then dropped by parachute along with those flying soldiers, those screaming eagles, right into enemy territory, right into the heart of Europe.Toward the end of the war, the fall of Italy and the destruction of its road and rail infrastructure, meant that the need for adequate post war transport was a severely pressing one for the nation. Renaldo Piaggio, his once booming fighter aircraft factory now destroyed, crippled by the severity of a post war economy and the severe restrictions placed on a defeated nation, had to take his manufacturing skills elsewhere. Piaggio then, turned his eyes on the obvious transportation needs of his post war country. He looked around and asked himself, “Just what was it that he could produce cheaply and in vast quantities, that would meet the needs of the day?"
At that time, the olive green machines of the Nebraskan, Cushman scooter company, were buzzing around post war Europe and no doubt, became the obvious stimulus for the design style of the new, and cheap, stylish Italian vehicle for the masses. It was Enrico Piaggio, who beholding the brand new mass produced Italian scooter design with both his eyes and ears for the first time said with delightful surprise, “Sembra una vespa!” or, “It reminds me of a wasp!”
Actually, the Italian Word for wasp, ‘Vespa,’ is in fact the genus name of all true hornets! Yes, the very same hornets mentioned in our text for tonight. Fierce and voracious, with a far more deadly sting than a wasp, hornets are only mentioned in but three places in the Bible and each place singularly references all of God’s miraculous interventions in fighting for His people. Each three references refer to His use of hornets in making sure of His people's possession of the Promised Land!
As there are no Biblical accounts of hornets actually being used on the field of battle, some commentators take these three references and therefore our text for tonight along with them, to be metaphorical, in that God would send amongst the enemies of Israel, not actual hornets, but never the less a real consternation and fleeing madness of the mind, as if literal hornets were viciously attacking them! Frankly, I do not know which sounds worse, the reality or the metaphor! As for me, I take both points of view. I believe there was both the reality of utter panic, pain, fear and confusion sown by God amongst the minds and hearts of the enemies of Israel and that God also, on occasion, sat sternly astride His very own Vespas and rode them out into battle Himself.
My points for your consideration this evening are but two-fold:-
Firstly, note that although Reuters has long since reported that modern day Israel has produced a ‘Bionic Hornet,’ small enough to by stealth, photograph and even assassinate its enemies and also, that the rise of all our militaries use of nano-technology is far more complex and advanced than we ever realized, never the less, God was already using insect armies thousands of years ago! Get that, God is at the head of insect nations and uses them in the lives and destinies of His people!
On this first point of tonight then ponder this. God will use anything to accomplish His will for you. God will maneuver stars and planets, wind and waves, animals and insects, horses and even hornets, to accomplish His will for you. There is nothing He will not whistle for, to come running to your aid. Nothing!
Secondly, that in your rescue and in your aid, God will also miraculously give to you, things that you do not deserve, items and goods which you have not worked for, planted or prepared for. God will give these things to you.
Be assured tonight then dear friend, that God is out riding on His Vespa and will always send the hornet to the aid of the apple of his eye. Always.
Listen:- Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. Deuteronomy 7:20-22 NKJV
Pray:- Great and awesome God, may I hear You buzzing by my side as I travel tomorrow up the road to glory. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
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