How is it that the birds, the insects, the fish, many animals, and even many people, now feed upon other living creatures, instead of only upon the plants which God said should be their food? Perhaps what we told you last week about the plants has brought this question into your minds.

It is because the curse that came upon the earth through man’s sin has had an effect upon the whole creation, and changed and perverted the nature that God gave to His creatures in the beginning.

It is still the life of God that is seen in all things. This is shown in the wisdom and skill that the animals have, in their tender love for their little ones and often in their kindness to one another when in difficulty or trouble.

But God’s will is not now “done on earth as it is in heaven,” and as it will be when God makes the earth new and fills it with new creatures. For then, He says, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain.”

But we are not now going to talk about the animals. We want to tell you about some plants that have such an unnatural and perverted appetite that they are not content with the good food that God has provided in the earth for their roots to suck up, and in the air for their leaves to absorb in the way we told you of last week. These are called “carnivorous plants” just as the animals that feed upon the flesh of others an called “carnivorous animals.”

Here is a picture of one of them, which, is called “Venus’s Fly-trap.” I need not tell you why it is called a fly-trap, for you will see how the cruel prickly leaves fold over the poor little unsuspecting fly that has alighted on it. Crushing it to death, the leaves suck in the juices from its body, and then open again and seeming innocence for another victim.

There is also the sundew, which grows in this country in soft, marshy places. Its leaves are covered with stiff hairs, at the end of which are little drops of sweet moisture that attract insects to come and feed. But like the fly-trap this is only a snare, for the insect soon becomes entangled in the hairs, of the leaves which fold over and feed upon it.

These plants do not use these things for their food, any more than we ourselves need to feed upon animals; for God has provided abundant nourishment for them in just the way that He meant them to take it, which we may be sure is the very best way for them. They thrive when they are not able to get any of the living food that they crave, for they can draw up food from the earth just as other plants can.

You may have heard too of the “pitcher plant.” The end of each of its long green leaves is shaped like a pitcher and filled with sweet, intoxicating juice. Ants, flies and all kinds of insects come to this plant attracted by the contents of the pitcher. But, like people who drink intoxicating liquors, they soon lose their senses, and become the prey of the deceitful plant that has lured them to their death only that it may feast upon their bodies.

The article following this one will tell you of a much larger plant than any of these, which will feed not only on birds and animals, but even on human flesh when it gets the opportunity. {Article not available on the CD-ROM}

When man sinned, God said to him, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake.” Since the ground itself is cursed, every thing that comes from it, which includes everything that lives on it, bears more or less of the curse. It is much more plainly seen in some things than in others, but it rests upon all, and all things must be redeemed and made new before the plan and purpose of God can be carried out in the earth.

In the beginning God said to man, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.” But now there are many trees and plants which bring death instead of life to those who eat of them or even breathe their deadly odours. Perhaps we will tell you about some of these another time.

The promise we spoke of, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain,” takes in not only men and animals, but the plants also. Then they will again give out nothing but life; their murderous tendencies will be taken away, and only God’s pure, unperverted life of love will be seen in all things.

The Present Truth – October 5, 1899
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf  Some Carnivorous Plants