“Thou... art Lord alone; Thou hast made... the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all.” Nehemiah 9:66Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6).
About 2000 kinds of starfish, or sea stars, abound in the world’s oceans. The greatest number are found along the Pacific Coast of North America. There are many varieties, and while most of them have five rough, pointed arms, there are some which have more. The sunstar has 13 arms, and others have as many as 50!
It is common for starfish to eat dead sea creatures, but they also go after live clams, oysters and crabs. A clam or oyster closes up its shell tightly when attacked. But the greedy starfish attaches a suction-cupped arm on both sides of the shell to pull it apart. The shellfish holds out for a long time, but the starfish has more strength and finally pulls the shell apart. Then, placing its stomach over the victim’s body, slowly digests it.
Starfish may appear to be harmless little sea animals, but many of them are actually vicious. They will attack other starfish of their own kind or some other variety, and it is not always the biggest that wins out.
The stomach is on the underside of the starfish’s center and is like a piece of soft but tough elastic. The starfish crawls over the victim and covers it with its stomach. Then it patiently waits while the food is slowly digested. It is amazing how large a victim can be eaten that way. The meal may take several days or even weeks to digest.
A surprising number of starfish in a wide variety of shapes and forms live in the ice-covered waters of Antarctica near the South Pole. One of these is so different and pretty that it has been named feather star. It does not have the usual solid arms, but its body is covered with beautiful, long, yellow “feathers” with thin centers that wave back and forth in the ocean currents and snare small particles of food that drift by.
Another outstanding one, with the odd name of odontaster, is bright red and eats anything dead or alive, from the tiniest algae to large marine creatures. One named brittle star has a round smooth tannish body, about a foot in diameter, and five long spindly legs, tapering to points at the ends. These probe all around for food to bring to its stomach.
While many of these creatures seem strange to us, the Creator had a definite purpose in placing them in the seas and preserving them, as the beginning verse reminds us. But He does not love them as He loves every person on the earth. This is expressed so well in the Bible verse that speaks of those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, saying, “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). Have you accepted that love and thanked Him for it?
ML-12/08/1991