I Am a Worm, and Not a Man
I read a book in December 2025 called The Garden Within by Dr Anita Phillips. In it, she said something along the lines of: “If you want to know more about the Father, take a close look at His creation.”
That statement struck me then, but not nearly as much as it does now that I have gained a little more understanding about some of God’s creatures.
Throughout the Bible, God points us towards different animals and invites us to learn from the way they live. These references are not random, they are carefully selected because each creature reveals something worth observing.
We are told in the Scriptures to consider the ant to learn diligence, preparation and hard work. The dove teaches us gentleness and innocence, while the serpent represents shrewdness. The sheep teaches us about followership, trust and discipleship. We are also shown the deer panting for streams of water as a picture of how deeply our souls should long for God.
The list is almost endless.
However, today, I want to focus on one creature I recently learnt about that I found absolutely fascinating. Honestly, it blew my mind, and I hope you find it just as interesting and intriguing.
This creature is called the crimson worm.
This scale insect is often referred to in Psalm 22, where King David begins with the incredibly familiar words:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”
These were also the words Jesus cried out while He was on the cross: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
It is amazing to think that king David wrote words that pointed towards the suffering of the Messiah centuries before Jesus was born. So he wasn’t just a king, but also a prophet!
The psalm goes on to speak about the greatness of God and how He answers those who trust in Him in generations past and currently. Yet, in that moment of suffering, it seemed as though God had forsaken Jesus.
Then, in verse 6, the suffering figure gives a reason why God had forsaken him by saying:
“But I am a worm and not a man.”
That immediately raised a question in my mind: why a worm?
Of all the creatures that could have been mentioned, why not a lion, an eagle or another animal associated with strength and majesty? Why a tiny and seemingly insignificant, unassuming worm?
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Let me break it down as I heard it explained and as I later read further…
The Hebrew word used in the passage for the crimson worm is tola’at, a word associated with a crimson or scarlet. The crimson worm is a small scale insect historically found in regions including the Middle East – the part of the world where Jesus was born, lived and carried out His ministry.
Now the female crimson worm reproduces only once in her lifetime. When the time comes, she climbs onto the bark of a tree and permanently attaches herself to it. Once attached, she cannot come down again, even if she wanted to. Her journey up the tree is therefore a journey of no return.
She attaches herself to the tree to protect her young. The larvae remain beneath her covering and receive nourishment while she gives up her life for them. When it gives birth, it shields and protects her larvae, who then begin to feed on her for about 3 days.
As the mother dies, she releases a deep crimson-coloured substance that stains both the tree and her offspring. Because of this covering, the young are marked by the crimson stain.
Come on – how much more similar can this be to our Lord Jesus Christ?
His blood was poured out for us, His children. We are covered by His sacrifice and forever changed because of what He did.
Then, after a few days, something even more fascinating is said to happen. The mother’s body changes from crimson into a white, wax-like substance, which eventually breaks apart and falls away like flakes of snow.
Her crimson becomes white.
This immediately brings to mind the words:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
Do you now see why the reference to a crimson worm is so powerful? The detail and intentionality reflected in this tiny creature are incredible.
Like the crimson worm, Jesus made a painful and difficult journey to the cross. He was fastened to a wooden structure, knowing that He would not come down from it alive. He willingly gave His life so that His children, us, could be protected, nourished and covered by His blood.
The crimson worm instinctively carries out an act of sacrifice for its offspring. In a far greater way, Jesus knew that He had come to give His life as the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of humanity.
He knew very well what awaited Him; the pain He would endure, that the cross would be a journey of no return. Yet, He still went willingly.
What appears to be a small and insignificant creature becomes another signpost pointing us towards the love, sacrifice and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Creation truly does tell us something about the Creator! I guess we only need to be attentive to what they are saying!!!
Shalom
