spider

Story Time – Robert Bruce and the Spider

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More than six hundred years ago, the people of Scotland made up their minds that they did not want to be ruled by the king of England. They wanted to rule themselves. This led to war between the two countries.

Again and again, the English army defeated the Scotch. At last, Robert Bruce was made leader of the Scotch army. Six times Bruce led his brave little army against the great army of England. Six times he was driven back. Then his army was scattered, and he had to hide in order to save his life.

Sometimes he hid in the woods. Sometimes he hid in the mountains, and sometimes in the huts of poor peasants. The English soldiers tried to find and capture him. He had to flee one hiding place to another.

At last he was almost ready to give up. It seemed to him there was no use trying to do anything more. That night he lay down on a heap of straw in an old hut. But he could not sleep. He was thinking about his failures.

At last morning came. As he lay on his bed of straw, he was greatly discouraged. Would his country ever be free?

Just then he saw a spider trying to swing herself by her thread from one beam of the roof to another. She failed, and the thread swung back to its starting place. She tried again, and again it fell back. She made another effort, only to fall back a third time. But the little spider had started to weave a web, and she never thought of giving up. Six times she tried to throw her frail thread across. Six times it fell short.

For a moment Robert Bruce seemed to forget about his own failures. He watched the little spider with deep interest. He hoped she would not give up. He wanted to see her succeed.

The seventh time she swung herself out on her slender line. Would she fail again? No! This time the thread was thrown safely across, and fastened to the beam.

Bruce was almost ashamed of himself. If a little spider would not give up, why should he?  He, too, would try the seventh time. With new courage he left his hiding place. He got his friends together. He told them of his plans. He sent them out to encourage his soldiers.

Soon another army of brave Scotsmen were around him. Another great battle was fought, and this time the English were completely defeated. They fled into their own country. Scotland was made free, and Robert Bruce was its king. Balloons, True Education Series, 44, 45.

 

Children’s Story – God and the Spider

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God can use anything He chooses to help us in times of need because He knows just what our needs are. We may wonder how a little spider can help, but with trust in God, that little spider can be a big help.

During World War 1, a United States marine was separated from his unit. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades and could not see them anywhere.

Alone in the hills, he heard some enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for a place to hide, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of those caves. He was safe for the moment, but shortly he realized that once the enemy soldiers who were looking for him climbed up the ridge, they would quickly search all of the caves, and they would be sure to find him.

As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be Your will, please protect me. I accept whatever is Your will though, because I love You and trust You. Amen.”

After praying, he lay quietly, listening to the enemy beginning to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.” Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy soldiers who were searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

“Ha,” he laughed to himself. “What I need is a brick wall, and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.”

As the enemy drew closer, he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. “Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in You a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.”

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is very easy to forget the victories that God willingly works in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, “The God of heaven will give us success!” (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV.)

Remember, whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider’s web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is always with you. Just speak His name through Jesus His Son, and you will see His great power and love in your life.

In I Samuel 24 is recorded a story about David, who also hid himself in a cave so King Saul would not find him. God is able to protect us in ways that we know not—so trust in Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.