Although declared by God in the Old Testament of the Bible as “unclean” and not to be eaten, the 3000 varieties of lizards are very much a part of God’s creation and care. They are found just about everywhere in the world except the Antarctic. They usually make their homes in warm, rocky spots, but sometimes in trees or in water.
The chameleon and most other lizards can actually change the color of their leathery skin when they want to, even showing stripes like a zebra or sometimes mixing colors like an autumn leaf. They can also shed their entire tail when attacked. The wriggling, separated section attracts the enemy’s attention while its owner escapes. Soon a new tail grows back. Every lizard has a long, sticky tongue for catching flies and other insects.
Each lizard has been especially designed by the Creator to fit into its surroundings. Those on rocky cliffs have needle-sharp claws and hang onto rocks so tightly, that if forced off, their claws remain behind. They also have special scales under their tails to help them cling to steep surfaces. Tree-climbing monitors and iguanas, which have special toes for climbing, also use monkey tricks, like climbing and swinging by grasping tree limbs with their tails. These lizards also are well hidden, being colored like bark or leaves.
Those species that live in the desert are colored like the sand or rocks and often change color as they move about. Burrowing species have wedge-shaped heads, and their ears and nostrils are protected from the sand by clever shields. They have tough scales on their feet to help dig, and some even have shovel-shaped feet for this purpose. Some of these can “swim” through sand as fast as a fish swims through water.
Flying lizards glide from tree to tree. They are provided with webs of skin, like flying squirrels. One, the flying dragon, looks like a colored leaf traveling through the air. Another, the gecko, can shed its skin to escape an attacker, and it also makes long leaps through the air.
Many lizards can make short runs at more than 15 miles per hour and sometimes rise on their hind legs when running. Several species easily adapt themselves to mankind and often scamper over the walls, ceilings and floors of houses.
The ability of all these little creatures to do these things is another example of the wonders of God’s creation, yet not one of them is able to think about the Lord God who created it and takes care of it “by the word of His power.”
While the Lord God cares for all His creation, it is only to man that He has said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:33The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3). Have you responded to that loving-kindness that wants you to come to Him? He wants to forgive all your sins. All you have to do is come in faith and accept Him as your Saviour.
ML-07/10/1983