Sighting Tobacco Hornworms

Imagine finding what I thought was a tomato worm, but upon closer inspection and research, I learned about something new. That happened this summer in Grandma’s backyard flower beds converted by me into tomato garden spots.

Within three days, I collected eight tomato plant predators during my watering time. Several of these were immature larvae, just brilliant lime green in color. But then I pulled this creature from a damaged tomato plant. Upon researching, I learned it was a tobacco hornworm instead of a tomato hornworm. Just the kind of creature I didn't want to deal with this summer.

A couple of characteristics distinguishes one from the other. The tobacco hornworm has white diagonal markings whereas a tomato hornworm displays v-shaped light markings on its otherwise bright green background. The distinctive horn of the tobacco hornworm is reddish in color. The color of the ominous-looking horn on the tomato hornworm appears dark blue or black.

The tobacco hornworm posing on the bottom of
an overturned planter.

The one overwhelming fact remained - the destructive nature of the little green “worms.” Yet this go-around in 2020 found me plucking from the Celebrity tomato plants some brilliant, lime green immature larvae devoid of any markings. Those little green pests blended imperceptibly into the green of the healthy tomato greenery.

Those small destroyers, though indiscernible, began causing harm to a couple of  healthy tomato vines. In this same way, James, the half-brother of Jesus, stated the beginning of sin is small with an evil desire enticing one to commit the sinful action and if allowed to mature, it leads to death. (James 1:14-15)

The account of King David, the second king of the kingdom of Israel, and his progression into sinfulness came to mind when I learned more about the almost invisibleness of an immature larva of the tobacco hornworm. David’s first sin was inactivity or idleness. Few 21^st century Christians would categorize idleness as a sin. Then in his idleness, he looked and lusted for Bathsheba, his military comrade’s wife. Both errors in judgment would have likely gone unnoticed by the palace servants just as the unmarked caterpillar in brilliant green can hardly be seen by the unsuspecting gardener.

Then just as the more visible light-colored markings of the mature tobacco hornworm emerged, David’s next steps of calling the wife of a friend and trusted soldier to the palace and the subsequent adultery implicated at least some of the Jerusalem palace staff.

David could have repented, but instead he conducted his kingly responsibilities under self-deception. Then he received the dreaded news of Bathsheba’s pregnancy, but no repentance. The attempt at the unsuccessful cover-up began.

The king recalled his friend and husband of the woman he had violated. Even after David got his friend drunk, Uriah refused to go on leave to his home and wife. Then David does the unthinkable. He sends a death order for Bathsheba’s husband and his trusted soldier by Uriah’s very hand!

Following the "sorrow" over Uriah’s death in battle and a respectable time of mourning, David marries Uriah’s pregnant widow. All seemed well, but 2 Samuel 11 ends with these words, But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

Just as a tobacco hornworm allowed unrestricted access to a tomato plant will harm it, render it unfruitful, and destroy the once healthy plant, so destruction came to David’s family. In studying the Biblical record of David’s children, you will see death due to illness, rape of David’s beautiful daughter by her half-brother, and then her brother, another son of David, avenged her rape by murdering their half-brother turned rapist. Death in battle took Prince Absalom after he incited an insurrection of his own father, David. After David’s death, another son was killed following his planned takeover of David’s heir apparent, King Solomon and his fledgling kingdom.

Just as I removed the tobacco hornworms instantly, may we attend to the small, seemingly harmless issues in our lives. As God points out changes that need to be made, may we pray for strength from His Holy Spirit to, moment by moment, day by day, take steps of obedience. This will insure our continued productivity. 

A couple of stripped tomato limbs reveal the
tobacco hornworm's destructiveness.

A tomato plant decimated by hornworm destruction reaches a point beyond reclamation to fruitfulness. In contrast, humans never sink to a depth too low for God to reach while here on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote of this depravity redeemed in Romans 6:17. May it be a watchword as we pray for ourselves and others.

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.