The Monarch Butterfly—An Illustration of Transformation—Part 1—Introduction

 

There is nothing insignificant in God's universe. Everything that He has made has a meaning and a purpose. There is not a curl in a cloud, or a curve in a leaf, or a tint on a blossom, but has a reason for it, and speaks of its origin. ~ H. Macmillan

The Reason For Studying the Number Four

I hope to demonstrate in this writing how the Monarch butterfly's life cycle and transformation process parallel transformative processes in creation, the human heart, and Biblical text. This will also be an exhaustive study of the number four as it categorizes these same concepts throughout Scripture.

The first sections of this installment focus heavily on the number four's connection to the transitory, naturally created realm. The Scriptural context will follow.

Where It All Began

Every year, it is a great joy and educational opportunity for my grandchildren and me to observe the Monarch butterfly's life cycle. It is no less than a miraculous process to behold. We are blessed to live in a rural area that hosts plenty of milkweeds, the only staple food the Monarch eats during its caterpillar phase.

"The wise person is one to whom every aspect of creation and life contains something of value to be learned." 

— The Book of Psalms with an interlinear translation and commentary, the Shottenstein Edition Artscroll series

Metamorphosis

Observations of this fascinating development process piqued my curiosity concerning its possible spiritual applications. God's creation contains a lesson about who God is and how life is intended to function.

... since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.
— Romans 1:20

Charles Spurgeon, "a preacher of preachers" from the 1800s, agrees.

"all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written books ... all created things point to their Maker"
— Charles Spurgeon

Further commentary from the Schottenstein Edition of the Psalms adds to the resounding symphony of testimonies on this topic. 

"Contemplating merely the general categories of the unfathomable Divine Power and Wisdom evident in creation would completely overwhelm the most brilliant mind."
— Tehillim commentary The Schottenstein Edition

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, agrees.

... in him were all things created ...

1. those in the heavens,
2. and those upon the earth,
3. those visible,
4. and those invisible, ...

whether ...

1. thrones, whether
2. Lordships, whether
3. principalities, whether
4. authorities;

... all things through him, and for him, have been created ...
— Colossians 1:16

The foundation verse for this illustration of our new life at salvation is animated by the Monarch butterfly's life cycle.

... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
— Romans 12:1-2

The word "transformed" in the above passage of Scripture comes from the Greek word metamorphoo, from which the English term metamorphosis is derived. "Metamorphosis" is a term used to explain the complete change of form and substance of something. It is commonly used to describe the radical conversion process during a butterfly's formation and development. Therefore, we will study this incredible insect's testimony and the lesson of our transformation process through God's plan and pattern of salvation.

"Metamorphoo" appears only 4 times in the New Testament. It is first used in our foundation verse. It refers to Christ's transfiguration recorded in Matthew and Mark, in which four men were present. And the fourth one is found in II Corinthians 3:18, which will be noted later in the study.

Let us begin with the first of the four stages of development. 

A Monarch egg is implanted on a milkweed leaf

Egg—In the Beginning

The Monarch butterfly goes through a four-phase life cycle:

1. egg
2. Caterpillar
3. pupa
4. butterfly

This cycle takes about four weeks to complete. 

The first phase ("In the beginning ... ") begins with an adult butterfly laying an egg on the underside of the leaf of a Milkweed plant. A female butterfly lays approximately 400 eggs. The butterfly carefully selects the best places for the developing worm's best opportunities for feeding and development. In the Book of Acts, Paul informs us that God has planted us in times and spaces where we might find provision in Him. 

He ... has determined their (men's) preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him ... 

— Acts 17:26-27 

 

A Very Hungry Caterpillar

On average, it takes about four days for the tiny caterpillar to be formed, recognize its hunger for more, and realize its captivity, at which time it eats its way out of the bondage of its shell. Exoduses are kind of like that. For further reference, read the Book of Exodus, which reveals how God had to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt by challenging their captors, helping them realize their need for deliverance, and developing their desire or hunger for it.

A Monarch caterpillar eating milkweed

We Are But a Worm 

As it concerns the caterpillar phase of development, it might be observed that we, apart from God, are no more than a spineless, defenseless worm, as Spurgeon well notes in the following quote.

"See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! ... That caterpillar is yourself ... " 

— Charles Spurgeon 

Bildad, one of Job's advisers, understood this reality.

How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?
— Job 25:6

In concert with this revelation, scarlet was one of the four colors used in the Exodus instructions for the priestly garments, curtains, and coverings. This particular word for "scarlet" refers to the worm's blood from which the dye was obtained. The dye was used to create this color for each of these coverings. Covering speaks of atonement for sin, which typifies the bloodshed necessary to transform us into God's likeness.

The Number Four—The Stamp of Transformation

You may have already noticed that four is a common theme that stamps the Monarch butterfly's creative transforming process, yet there is so much more.

• It sheds four skins. 
• Its first molt occurs four days after its shell exit.
• It has four main sets of legs, totaling 16 (4 x 4). 
• It hangs as a "J" for 24 (4 x 6) hours in its caterpillar phase. 
• Its chrysalis has 36 (4 x 9) gold spots and four wings that fill with fluid and harden for four hours. 
• The average wingspan is approximately four inches. 

There are four main structures on the adult head:

1. eyes
2. antennae
3. palpi
4. and proboscis

• It has a four-color vision system in its butterfly phase. 
• It also involves a four-generation process of going from Mexico to Canada and back. 
• It will spend four months in semi-hibernation in the Mexican mountains, in the 56,000-hectare (4 x 14,000) Hector Biosphere.

The Monarch migration schedule also follows this pattern of four. It is theorized that Monarchs that have wintered in Mexico head North from their roost on the first day of the spring equinox. Each day, they are oriented one degree east. This pattern will follow into the succeeding generations until the final generation migrates south. They will head in that direction during and around the autumn equinox. This direction is a 180 ° (4 x 45 °) turn from their starting point. 

A final fact is that only four species of Monarch live in North America.

Part 2 of this series will discuss the number four's relationship to God's Word and Creation.