A 23-year-old woman was swimming near Red Reef Park on Sunday afternoon (May 15, 2016) near Boca Raton, Florida,
when she was bitten on the right forearm by a shark. The two-foot long nurse shark refused to let go and the woman had to be taken to a nearby hospital. Though she was shaken by the experience, she was in stable condition and later released.
Jim Abernathy, a local conservationist and shark expert, thinks he knows how it happened. “I'm 99 percent sure that the person grabbed on its tail, and because the shark is only that big, it turned around and bit her right on the arm.” He explained that most Floridians who swim in the ocean know that nurse sharks want nothing to do with people and will attack only if provoked.
When sharks do attack humans, it is usually a case of mistaken identity. A shark might mistake humans for natural prey, like a fish or other marine animal. Usually they release the person after the first bite. About 33 Americans are attacked by sharks each year, and about one person dies annually from such attacks. One professional diver says that it’s important to remember that sharks aren’t evil creatures constantly on the lookout for humans to attack. They are simply following their hunting instincts.
While sharks do not have wicked intentions, there is a sinister enemy who is out to attack and destroy humans.
The apostle Paul describes the work of Satan and his host against Christians in this way: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). In describing the work of the devil, Jesus made it clear, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10).
Like the nurse shark, the devil tries to look innocent, but is quick to grab us in his evil grip. That’s why it’s better to stay as far away as possible from “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) and draw close to Jesus. Never forget, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Through the power of Christ we may “escape the snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:26).
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In the Lion's Den, a message from Pastor Doug about avoiding and overcoming the devil's traps in your life. And don't grab on to the devil's temptations. Click here to read
12 Tips for Resisting Temptation.