Why Did God Make Scorpions?

Several days ago I was sitting out on the porch with our Siberian huskies, Shimmer and Cayenne.

Shimmer is our new three-year-old.

We love her so much!

She’s one of the most observant dogs we’ve ever owned.

I noticed her ears had perked up at one point and she was intently staring at the big brown ornamental rock right beyond our porch.

What in the world is she looking at?

A few minutes later I saw it too.

Ohhhhh noooooooooo.

A scorpion.

The hideously-disgusting creature was scurrying along that rock, way too close for my comfort.

I’m pretty sure it was about twelve inches long (okay, probably closer to two inches.)

I heard a scream (actually it was from me) and the three of us ran inside so I could get my husband to kill it.

Chivalry is not dead.

Why did God make scorpions in the first place?

Cringe-Worthy Arachnids: Why Did God Make Scorpions?

Why did God make scorpions?

I’m glad you asked.

We don’t fully know, as God is our Sovereign Creator.

However, some of the things we do know from a human standpoint is that scorpions eat other creepy crawlies like silverfish and spiders – that’s a good thing.

Even better, did you know that scientists are studying the scorpion’s venom for its possible health benefits?

Researchers isolated compounds of the scorpion’s poison indicating potential for treating certain illnesses and infections.¹

Yet, despite these redeeming qualities, it’s also hard to forget that, depending on the species, scorpions can also be dangerous.

Their painful stings are mentioned in the Bible.

Here’s one example:

First the context, hordes of locust-like creatures will be unleashed for a short period of time during the Final Judgment (the Tribulation) “to torment” unrepentant souls.

And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. – Revelation 9:5, (NASB).²

The horror to come for those Tribulation souls is yet another reminder for unbelievers to repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Cringe-Worthy Scorpions: Were They Ever Good?

Scorpions weren’t always the feared insects that we know them as today.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:24-25, (NASB).³

Did you see that?

Scorpions were good.

I wanted to share Dr. Gordon Wilson’s perspective from Answers in Genesis:

A world where animals didn’t eat other animals is almost impossible to imagine. Though we don’t know how everything worked in a perfect world, we do know that scorpions didn’t harm human beings. That came after Adam’s sin brought death and suffering into the world. – Dr. Gordon Wilson, Answers in Genesis.⁴

Further, he writes . . . 

The scorpion is a vivid reminder of the Curse and the deadly consequences of our sin against a holy and just God. Adam’s one sin in the Garden of Eden brought all this pain and suffering into the world. But because of God’s love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to experience death’s sting in our place and redeem sinful mankind (Acts 2:22–24; John 3:16). Someday God will redeem His fallen creation, as well. Then He will take away all predator-prey relationships— the poison and the pain, the fangs and the fears—and the scorpion will be restored to its original diet (Isaiah 11:6–9). – Dr. Gordon Wilson,Answers in Genesis.⁵

Another One?

Okay, so we know there’s both good and bad about present-day scorpions.

Even with the good, they’re still not my favorite creature in God’s Kingdom.

Meanwhile, we spotted a second scorpion at our house – this one was inside our house!

Oh heck no – we need to move.

Remind me to look down before I walk into a dark room.

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¹ Source Credit, [2019] Stanford University. By Stanford News. From “Stanford researchers synthesize healing compounds in scorpion venom”, June 11, 2019. Web. Accessed 27th October, 2023. Retrieved from https://chemistry.stanford.edu/news/stanford-researchers-synthesize-healing-compounds-scorpion-venom

² Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

³ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

⁴ Quotation from Dr. Gordon Wilson (PhD, Environmental Science and Public Policy, MS in Entomology) – teacher, writer for Answers in Genesis. “Scorpions — Armed and Dangerous.” Courtesy of Answersingenesis.org. para.4. Web. Accessed 26th, October, 2023. Retrieved from: https://answersingenesis.org/creepy-crawlies/scorpions-armed-and-dangerous/

⁵ Quotation from Dr. Gordon Wilson (PhD, Environmental Science and Public Policy, MS in Entomology) – teacher, writer for Answers in Genesis. “Scorpions — Armed and Dangerous.” Courtesy of Answersingenesis.org. para.11. Web. Accessed 26th, October, 2023. Retrieved from: https://answersingenesis.org/creepy-crawlies/scorpions-armed-and-dangerous/