Forests and jungles can be scary places. We can imagine endless dangers in them, especially those posed by wild creatures.
But the Bible is full of reminders that we need not fear nature, because God is above it all. When Daniel was thrown into the lions' den for praying to God rather than to King Darius, God closed the lions' mouths so that they would do Daniel no harm. While Jesus was at sea with his disciples, a furious storm threatened to overturn their boat. So secure was he in his father’s care that Jesus was actually asleep during the hurricane-force winds. His disciples awoke him, terrified of dying. Jesus calmed the winds, then scolded them. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-41).
Not only should we not fear nature, but we should be encouraged by God’s sovereignty over it. Take, for instance, the prophet Elijah, who announced a great drought on the land. God told Elijah to head into the wilderness. Elijah didn’t pack a canteen of water or a basket of food; instead, he obeyed the Lord immediately. And God did not leave him or forsake him. He led Elijah to a brook, and sent ravens to him with bundles of meat and bread twice a day (1 Kings 17:3-6). This is not "natural" behavior for a raven; and yet, God is supreme over all that is natural. If God can direct the birds of the air to deliver Happy Meals to his people, we can be assured of His ability to meet all our needs!
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?' Daniel answered, 'May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.' The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:22)
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?
They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'" (Mark 4:35-41)
“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
and spread its wings toward the south?
Does the eagle soar at your command
and build its nest on high? (Job:39:26-27)
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. (1 Kings 17:2-6)