The Wonders of God’s Creation
Baby Blue Whales may be twenty-five feet long and weigh as much as seven tons when they are born. But this doesn’t bother the mother too much, because she herself may be a hundred feet long and weigh up to one hundred and fifty tons! These are the largest living creatures on earth.
Whales of all kinds are found throughout the world’s oceans. Many of them spend their summers in the Arctic, where they are protected from extreme cold by a bluer (fat) coating about two feet thick. Before winter comes, large groups of them migrate thousands of miles south, where the babies (calves) are born. Again, in the springtime, they return north.
Although they look like a huge fish, whales are mammals and breathe air. They can dive 3,000 feet and stay under water as long as an hour. Special valves keep water out of their lungs. While under water, their bodies use oxygen very efficiently, with hearts beating slowly and blood circulation reduced. When they finally come up for air, they exhale through “blow holes” as they reach the surface, causing a spout of water and vapor to rise twenty feet or more into the air.
Some whales have teeth and eat solid food including fish, squid, octopus and even turtles. Others, like the Blue Whale, cannot eat solid food because their throats are too small. Opening their mouths as they swim, seawater passes over hundreds of “baleen plates,” hanging ten or twelve feet down from the upper jaw. These act like a sieve, holding back small plankton (small marine animals) and perhaps a few fish, too. Then, closing its mouth, the water rushes out and the food remains. Its huge tongue, weighing a ton or more, crushes this into “soup” before it is swallowed.
Like porpoises, whales are usually quite sociable and seem to enjoy life. They often leap out of the water, playing tag with one another and circle boats. Sometimes they even stand on their heads and loudly slap the water with their tails. The mothers have the help of “aunties” in raising their young. By use of a remarkable sonar system, whales communicate, even miles apart, by a series of whistles, clicks, grunts, etc. A wounded whale is never deserted. Others stay by it until it recovers or dies.
Whether we look at this the largest of all creatures, or use a microscope to examine the smallest, the handiwork of God is always evident. Each has its purpose in creation and has been made for His pleasure. Yet, except for one, none are aware of God—the One who made them, or of His care over them.
The exception is mankind, given both intelligence and conscience, as well as the Scriptures, all telling him of God not only as Creator but also of responsibility to Him and the need of having his sins forgiven. In His love, God desires to forgive our sins and offers eternal life to all who accept His promise and show “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21). Have you done this?
ML-06/07/1981