Jellyfish, living near the surface of the sea, are related to the anemones, living at the bottom. Both have poisonous tentacles that sting invaders, either paralyzing or killing them. Then they devour them.
The jellyfish's transparent body, which looks like a colored umbrella, is 95% liquid, yet contains muscles, nerves and a digestive system. It floats on or near the surface of the water with its long tentacles dangling below. The "jelly" that forms the body has only one opening through which food, brought to it by the tentacles, is taken in and digested. The outer jelly's principal purpose is to keep it afloat.
The tentacles (20 or more of them, depending on the species) are almost all loaded with poisonous harpoons. Small fish are usually paralyzed when they approach too closely because these harpoons 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 bumps it. Either way, once a tentacle has hold of a captive, it curls its way up to the jellyfish's open mouth, drops in its meal and descends again to wait for another victim.
But 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 fail to see the tentacles and, bumping them, are themselves immediately captured. Of course, ii the little fish is careless and bumps one of these dangerous arms, that is the end of it, too.
Common jellyfish have little effect on swimmers who accidently bump 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 and be thankful it can't chase you.
Our opening Bible verse speaks 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, adding "and Thou preservest them all." Neh. 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]." Col. 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 Savior. Do you have a personal relationship with Him?