Jellyfish live near the surface of the sea and are related to the anemones which live at the bottom. Both have poisonous tentacles that sting invaders, either paralyzing or killing them. Then the victim is passed to the mouth and swallowed.
The jellyfish’s transparent body looks like a bell or umbrella. It floats on or near the surface of the water with its long tentacles dangling below. The name comes from the jellylike material between the two layers of cells that make up the body. This serves as a skeleton to support the fragile body wall. The jellyfish has only one opening where food is brought by the tentacles and then swallowed and digested.
The tentacles, 20 or more, depending on the species, are almost all loaded with stinging cells. Small fish are usually paralyzed when they brush by the tentacles, because these cells explode with corkscrew-like stingers that penetrate the victim’s skin. The tentacles of other jellyfish, instead of shooting out stingers, immediately wrap themselves around any fish, crab or shrimp that touch it. Either way, once a tentacle has hold of a captive, it curls its way up to the jellyfish’s open mouth, passes dinner in and descends again to wait for another victim.
Not all fish that swim within range are caught. Some have been given an instinct by the Creator to swim safely between the tentacles when escaping from an enemy. Many of their pursuers are so intent on catching the smaller fish that they touch the jellyfish’s tentacles and are themselves immediately captured. Of course, if the little fish is careless and brushes one of these dangerous arms, that is the end of it too.
Common jellyfish have little effect on swimmers who accidently touch them, except for a prickly feeling that is similar to being stung by a nettle. However, some varieties with stronger poison can prove so painful that the swimmer cannot make it back to shore. So if you are swimming in the ocean and see a jellyfish, stay clear of it.
Our opening Bible verse tells of the great sea (ocean) having “exceeding many” kinds of fish. Here again we are reminded of the Creator’s pleasure in the great variety of things He created. The people in Nehemiah’s day included these thoughts as they praised the Lord, and added, “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)). Later in the Bible we read, “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [are preserved]” (Colossians 1:1717And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)).
How wonderful to know the Creator, not only as your preserver, but of more importance, as your personal Lord and Saviour. Do you have a personal relationship with Him?
(to be continued)
ML-06/18/2000