Sneaky Sins - The Fox - The Character of Creatures

This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.

Sneaky Sins – The Fox

Have you ever seen a fox in the wild? It is unlikely you have; they are subtle, nocturnal, and sneaky. Despite being an elegant animal, they are known for causing all sorts of trouble: killing chickens, destroying grape vines, digging up plants, stealing things, and digging burrows in inconvenient places.

Foxes are a perfect illustration of craftiness and subtleness:

Catch the foxes for us,

the little foxes

that spoil the vineyards,

for our vineyards are in blossom. ~ Song of Solomon 2:15

Discussion:

1. Many theologians have equated the foxes to sneaky sins that find their way into our lives, that gnaw away the roots of what makes us bear fruit and thrive. What are some sins that can sneak into your life without you looking for them? A couple of examples are laziness, gluttony, and worldliness. Can you think of others?

2. Hebrews 12:1–2 puts it this way, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” Sin and time-wasting clings closely and easily to us. How can you be diligent to “catch the little foxes” so they do not hinder your relationship with Jesus or his people?

3. Foxes have a way of getting through fences and barriers, but that does not mean we do not build fences; it means we have to keep our fences well maintained and mend holes quickly. Using the examples above, what are some “fences” you can put up to make sure you do not fall into laziness, gluttony, worldliness, or other sins?

Tiny foxes spoil the vineyards; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These small sins burrow in the soul and fill it with what is hateful to Christ, and thus our comfortable fellowship and communion with him is spoiled. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon