Rabbits love to burrow. They dig holes or tunnels into the ground to create a space suitable for habitation or to create temporary refuge, or (in the case of pets) to escape into the wide, open world…! (This happened to Thumper when he was left in his grass run for a very short space of time and decided the bigger lawn had much more grass to eat… Fortunately, his love of grass meant he did not venture far and he was returned to his cage safe and sound!)
Burrows provide a form of shelter against predators and exposure to the elements:
They are, in essence, protection for the rabbit, providing shelter and safety, but it takes some effort to create this place: effort which, however, seems completely natural and even enjoyable to a rabbit. To burrow is its natural instinct, and because rabbits are sociable creatures, burrows often lead to a complex series of underground chambers known as warrens.
The Bible says that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1) He shields all who take refuge in Him (2 Sam 22:31); He saves us from traps and snares (Ps 31:4). We can hide in Him until the disaster has passed (Ps 57:1, see also Ps 61:3, Ps 62:8, Ps 71:3). Sometimes it can seem that it takes a lot of effort to find this refuge; God can seem very distant to us in times of trouble and desperation. But as we burrow deeper, straining towards God, we find that His arms are there to receive us, to protect us and to shield us from harm. He covers us with His feathers and under His wings we find refuge; His faithfulness become our shield and rampart. (Ps 91:4) When trouble and storms come, as they inevitably do, let us burrow further into God – ‘ever further and deeper into the heart of God’ – rather than allowing them to draw us away from His presence.