The humble bumble bee (Bombus species), one of the most important native pollinators in Canada.
Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can fly in cool, cloudy, and even lightly rainy conditions. They generate heat by vibrating their flight muscles before takeoff, allowing them to become active when temperatures are only a few degrees above freezing.
Bumbles are quite gentle and rarely sting. Unlike honeybees, their stinger isn’t barbed, so they can sting repeatedly, although I’ve never been stung by one, even when picking them up or landing on me. Their quiet buzzing and gentle nature make me think of them as happy bees.
Bumbles live in small colonies of 5-200 bees, usually underground, and the entire colony dies over the winter. A new queen hatches every season.
Some bumble bee trivia:
Bumble bees can see ultraviolet patterns on flowers that humans cannot.
They remember productive flower patches and return repeatedly.
They are capable of simple learning and can even solve basic foraging problems.
Canada is home to dozens of native bumble bee species.
Now what in the world do bumble bees have to do with the Bible? Probably nothing, but bumble bees make me think of honey bees, and they bring to mind honey (and Winnie the Pooh, but that’s a story for another day).
Bumbles store up only small amounts of honey, like nectar. They don’t produce a surplus like honey bees.
There are bees in the bible, most likely a subspecies of the western honey bee.
Certainly, the Bible speaks of honey frequently.
The Bible uses honey to symbolize prosperity, God’s provision and the Word of God.
The law of Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, even more than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Psalm 19:8-10
How sweet is Your word to my taste!
Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
As we grow to know the Lord more, we gain a deeper appreciation for His Word. It does become sweet to us and nourishes our souls. We are richer for having it in our lives.
My prayer is that as you walk in the footsteps of Jesus, you grow to having a craving for time in His Word.
Be blessed
Kevin
SUMMARY
I share what I’ve learned about bumble bees, Canada’s gentle native pollinators, and how their humble nature led me to think about honey and the sweetness of God’s Word. Just as bumble bees quietly do their work without fanfare, I’m reminded that knowing the Lord more deeply makes His Word sweeter to us than honey.
TAKEAWAY
Bumble bees are gentle, hardworking pollinators that fly in conditions honey bees can’t tolerate, generating their own heat to stay active
Unlike honey bees, bumble bees store only small amounts of honey rather than a surplus, yet honey itself appears throughout Scripture as a symbol of God’s provision and the sweetness of His Word
Psalm 19 and Psalm 119 both describe God’s Word as sweeter than honey, pointing to a deepening craving for time in Scripture as we grow closer to the Lord
