A Horde of Humbugs

How is this for a caper? I grab a bee that has settled on a window. I hold it in my hand, antagonising it by giving it a little jiggle. The astonished expression I get from people seems to say, "Are you stupid?" No, not on this occasion. It is a trick. The credit, however, must go to the "bee." It is really a fly - a common drone fly. It is a humbug and a rather impressive one. The Lord Jesus Christ warned us about wolves in sheep's clothing. Here is a sheep in wolves clothing! The world is replete with humbugs. What should we make of all this deception? Jesus said, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" If we can learn something about God and ourselves from birds, what can we learn from a world of humbugs - animal and human? Perhaps there is wisdom to be had in comparing Christ to his creatures, in thinking not only about birds, but also about bugs, not only about cherubs, but also about con-artists. Perhaps it can help us to distinguish deceivers from the genuine, avoid deception and trust sensibly. This book argues that it can.