"All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord.... Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." Psa. 145:10,16.
The koala, also known as the Australian Bear (although not a bear at all), is considered by many to be the world's most charming wild animal. This is easy to see since it looks just like a live teddy bear. It is also gentle and lovable and is often raised as a household pet.
Although the favorite and most numerous koala is about the size of a raccoon and weighs about ten pounds, there are several species, the smallest not much larger than a rat and the largest close to five feet long. Part of their charm is their inquisitive expression, their small head topped with big tufted ears, their woolly, gray coat and soft arms with which they hug anyone holding them. Their little mouth always seems to be smiling as their round eyes look you over while wrinkling their shiny, black nose.
Baby koalas weigh just a few ounces at birth and spend almost half a year in the mother's pouch, well fed with her rich milk. At the end of that time they climb onto her back and ride there for about a year, holding on with hand-like paws. During this time the mother introduces them to a diet of eucalyptus leaves. It is interesting to see how the Creator has given them wisdom to know to eat from only about a dozen kinds of eucalyptus rather than the 600 varieties that are not suitable as food, with some actually being deadly poisonous. While riding the mother's back the little ones learn which of these are safe, but the ability to tell one from another is really given by the One who created both the trees and the koalas. Actually, in spite of being so lovable they are rather lazy animals. Finding a good tree, they are quite content to stay in it, seldom coming down while tender leaves are still there. Life in these tall trees again shows the special provisions of God for His creatures. Sharp claws and rough padded feet are just right for climbing and holding onto branches when they are feeding. Hind legs that are long and strong also provide support for them while gathering food. Their bodies are so much a part of the tree that it is often difficult to find some of them.
In the hot, dry climate of Australia, what does the koala do for water? Here is another wonder of God's creation, for He has given them special stomachs that not only enable them to get nourishment from the bitter eucalyptus leaves, but also to get from them all the water they need.
The koala does not know of God's care over it, but we can know His care over us. The Bible tells us "the Lord searcheth all the hearts... if thou seek Him He will be found of thee." 1 Chron. 28:99And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9). If you, through His grace, have accepted Him as your Savior, then you can say with the Psalmist, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits." Psa. 68:1919Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19). Can you thank Him like this?