“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”
Most everyone likes shrimp, but not everyone knows that the tasty shrimp in salads and casseroles is just the underpart of their broad tails.
There are over 2000 varieties throughout the world, including tiny brine shrimp in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, an 18inch, 3pounder in the Philippine Islands, and skinny ghost shrimp found in the sand of some seashores. It is easy to confuse them with prawns. Although there are some large shrimp, the prawn is more than twice the size of the common shrimp, and the prawn has a long, saw-toothed beak compared with the sharp, short and smooth one of the shrimp.
The shrimp that we usually eat inhabits America’s shores by the billions, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico, but similar numbers are also under the Arctic ice. More than 10,000 boats are constantly working in taking thousands of tons monthly from the Gulf of Mexico. You might think that this would soon wipe out all the shrimp, but not so. The Creator has given them an interesting life pattern, providing a sure place in their saltwater homes.
Although they prefer shallow shore waters, three times a year on a night when a full moon is shining, the adult shrimp leave the shore areas and ride on an outgoing tide into deep water. There each female releases about half a million eggs so tiny it takes a microscope to see one. Then the adult shrimp return to shallow shore waters. The eggs not devoured by fish hatch in 24 hours and after a few weeks reach a visible size and allow incoming tides to carry them to shore waters. In six months they reach adult size. Soon they do exactly as their parents did before them -swim out to deep waters on moonlit nights, lay millions upon millions of eggs, and the cycle begins again.
So many billions of shrimp hatch that it would seem the waters would be saturated with them, as they actually would be if most were not eaten by fish and birds or taken by trawler boats. Similar quantities hatching in Arctic waters form a supply of rich food for fish, whales, penguins, seals and other sea life.
This is another example of the way the Creator provides for His creatures, as the Bible verse says, “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That Thou givest them they gather” (Psalm 104:2728). And it is not only fish, birds and animals that He provides for. Another Bible verse says, speaking of the Lord Jesus, “Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:1717Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:17)).
Have you ever thanked Him for His care over you? Do you really know this wonderful Provider as your very own Lord and Saviour?
AUGUST 31, 1997
ML-08/31/1997