The spider landed on the man's hand in silence. She wasn't looking for trouble; merely searching for a home for her offspring. Being such a small insect, the man immediately swatted the spider instead of just brushing it away. But the spider got the last laugh; she acted in self-defense, biting him instantly.
It really didn't seem like that big of a deal. Yet, the venom in the spider was powerful; more powerful than could seem possible in a creature so small. The venom wreaked havoc on the man's internal systems. His heart raced, his head swam, and bile rose in his throat. It was difficult to realize something so very small had caused such major damage.
Spiders inhabit our spiritual life as well. Tiny barbs of another's word spread venom through our heart resulting in resentment, bitterness, and cause our heart to harden against God. A stray thought of the mind becomes a stumbling block in our walk with Christ. A seemingly innocuous word to another becomes the venom for gossip and judgment for others.
1 Corinthians 11:28 admonishes us to examine ourselves. We must always be conscious of lurking spiders in our spiritual body that seek to spread its venom in our hearts. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” However, Jesus came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Satan will use any means necessary to steal and destroy our relationship with God, even an itsy bitsy spider.