“Jesus saith unto him... Go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money.” Matthew 17:26-2726Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (Matthew 17:26‑27).
History tells about the interesting fish called the carp in China more than 2000 years ago. Since then other countries in Asia, Europe and North America have experimented with them in ponds, lakes and rivers.
Isaac Walton, considered one of the world’s great fishermen, wrote: “The carp is the Queen of Rivers, a stately, a good and very subtle (clever) fish.” Not only do people enjoy fishing for them, but some people enjoy eating them, both fresh and canned. There is no way of knowing whether the fish mentioned in the above Bible verse was a carp, but it was probably much like one.
Not everybody likes carp, partly because they multiply and spread rapidly in lakes and rivers. A female lays about 500 eggs at a time in clumps that stick to rocks or weeds near the bottom. Though carp are useful as food, they are harmful because they deprive other fish of food, as well as shelter. They destroy many water plants, making ponds and streams muddy that would otherwise be clear and attractive. The carp, some as long as 36 inches and weighing as much as 30 to 80 pounds, can hardly be called a pretty fish. Most of them have large, coarse scales all over their bodies, with whiskers along the sides of the mouth and tough, bony fins. There are, however, several varieties, some with just three or four rows of scales on the sides. One called the leather carp has only a few scales and looks almost bare.
Their method of eating is somewhat disgusting. With their whiskers and flexible lips they feel along muddy areas for insects, fish eggs and other food. Now and then they suck up a mouthful of mud, then spit it out, apparently to see what they’ve caught. They finally swallow the food along with the mud, only slightly diluted.
In spite of this, many fish lovers enjoy fishing for them, and they remain a good-selling item in many fish markets of the world. Though they are not popular, these fish serve a purpose in God’s creation. Just by watching their ways we can see the Creator’s wisdom displayed, as these Bible verses point out: “Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought [made] this? in whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:8-108Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? 10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:8‑10).
Not only is the life of a carp in the Creator’s hands, so is yours! Think about it!
ML-05/05/1991