“Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made . . . the earth, and all things that are therein.”
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)
The snow leopard, also called the ounce, is a member of the leopard family and is one of the world’s most beautiful animals. When full-grown, this animal will be two-and-a-half feet tall at shoulder height and six to six-and-a-half feet long, including its two-foot furry tail. Its weight will be from 100 to 150 pounds. Since it often lives more than a mile high on the cold mountainsides of Tibet and a few other Asian countries, the Creator has given it a coat much heavier than that of the leopards of warmer climates.
Its white fur is overlaid with pale gray and leopard-like brown spots over most of its body, but the fur remains plain white on the chin, chest and belly. Each of its yellow eyes is circled with a ribbon of dark brown fur. With its small ears and a face like that of a house cat, it is a very beautiful creature. Just like when your pet cat is calm and relaxed, the snow leopard’s sharp claws are not visible, but when its paw reaches out to strike, the claws become fierce weapons, ready for action.
Since the snow leopard blends in so well with its surroundings, mountain climbers might pass near one, sitting on its haunches and quietly watching them, and be entirely unaware of its presence. This leopard’s food is made up of antelope, deer, mountain goats, smaller animals, pheasants and other birds. When these are not available, it may raid a farmyard for sheep and calves, but it has never been known to attack people.
A mother trains her kittens to catch prey by lying on the ground and gently switching her tail from side to side. The kittens try to pounce on it, but just as they pounce she gives it a quick flick and they are left empty-handed. Eventually their reflexes become sharper, and they are able to use this needed skill when hunting for food.
These lovely animals instinctively hide among the rocks and snow where the coloring of their fur conceals them so well. But their Creator is well aware of them at all times, as the Bible verse tells us: “He [looks] to the ends of the earth, and [sees] under the whole heaven” (Job 28:2424For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; (Job 28:24)). In other parts of the Bible we also read that He is the provider and protector of all His creatures.
Perhaps you are familiar with another verse which tells us that “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:33The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)). What do His eyes see in you?
AUGUST 13, 2000
ML-08/13/2000