The Prairie Watch-Dog

By Nina Medrano-

My interest was piqued to research the habits of the prairie dog when I witnessed their peculiar behaviors as I traveled to and from my workplace.

I learned that prairie dogs spend a lot of time building and rebuilding their dwellings, which are marked by many mounds of packed earth at their surface entrances. The prairie dogs use these carefully maintained mounds as observation posts.

The prairie dog is well adapted to predators. Their eyes which are positioned on the sides of the head enable detection of predators from a far distance over a wide arc. When a predator approaches, the first prairie dog alerts the other prairie dogs to the danger with a special high-pitch bark.

As I read about the prairie watch-dog behaviors, immediately three verses of Scripture resonated in my spirit:

Son of man, I’ve made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You are going to die,’ and you don’t sound the alarm warning them that it’s a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they’ll certainly die for their sin, but you won’t die. You’ll have saved your life (Ezekiel 3:17-19 MSG, emphasis mine).

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 NLT, emphasis mine).

Prowling around the Throne were Four Animals, all eyes. Eyes to look ahead, eyes to look behind. The first Animal like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face, the fourth like an eagle in flight. The Four Animals were winged, each with six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night and day, never taking a break:
Holy, holy, holy
Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong,
The Was, The Is, The Coming (Revelation 4:6-8 MSG, emphasis mine).

I used to believe that a watchman is a person that has a special calling to the prophetic and intercession ministry. This led me to believe that there are persons who may not be called to be watchmen. I was mistaken.

The watchman life of the prairie dog shows me that every person shares responsibility to preach the gospel to the lost. If we do not speak God’s warning to the lost, and they perish in their sin, then the fault is ours.

The prairie dogs’ adaptability to predators, reminds me to put on the full armor of God and be prepared for the strategies of the devil.

Lastly, in order for us to communicate the Kingdom of God to the lost, we must see past our own human ability. The Apostle Paul writes, “…ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers…” (Ephesians 1:18 AMP).

Perhaps the next time you pass by a prairie dog town, the Spirit of God will bring to remembrance our call to be a watchman to the lost souls in our families, neighbors and workplace.

This article is dedicated to my beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Daisy.

Daisy Medrano

February 16^th 2003-October 12^th, 2010