Although declared by God as “unclean” and not to be eaten by the Israelites in Old Testament times, the three thousand varieties of lizards are very much a part of God’s creation and care. They are found nearly everywhere in the world except the Antarctic. They usually live in warm, rocky places but sometimes are found in trees or in water.
The chameleon and most other lizards can actually change the color of their leathery skin, even showing stripes like a zebra or showing several colors like an autumn leaf. They can also shed their entire tails 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 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 the 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 branches with their tails.
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 shields. They have tough scales on their feet to help dig, and some even have shovel-shaped feet for this purpose. Some of these “swim” through sand as fast as fish swim through water.
Flying lizards glide from tree to tree, having webs of skin like flying squirrels. The flying dragon looks like a colored leaf traveling through the air. The gecko can shed its skin to escape an attacker and also makes long airborne leaps.
Many lizards make short runs at more than fifteen miles an hour and sometimes run upright on their hind legs. Several species easily adapt to civilization and often scamper over walls, ceilings and floors of houses.
The abilities of these little creatures are another example of the wonders of God’s creation. However, not one of them is able to think about the Lord God who created it and cares for it “by the word of His power.”
While the Lord God cares for all His creation, He has said only to man: “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 His loving-kindness by letting Him forgive your sins? All you have to do is come in faith and accept Him as your Saviour.
ML-02/24/2002