Last week we began a visit to a saltwater beach. We were interested in finding things that remind us of God’s creation. Now as we walk on toward the water, the roar of the waves is plainly heard. A little squirt of water pops up at our feet, signaling clams below. How do they breathe and what do they eat down in the wet sand? God has designed them for this life with long, tube-like necks, called siphons. These extend to the surface to keep their breathing and eating vent open. When waves come, water flows down the clam’s siphon bringing food with it. Can God see them buried in the sand? Yes, He can. As the Bible says, “The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.” Psalms 139:1212Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:12).
Our interest is drawn to the cries of the sea gulls which occasionally drop down for the food their sharp eyes have spotted. And the sandpipers, how swiftly they run, chasing receding waves for bites of food left behind on the sand. Suddenly, as if on signal, all the birds take to the air. Oh, how gracefully they fly, all turning in unison as though following some given instruction. Along the shore there are also avocets, their curved bills pecking at the sand as though making a meal of it. Actually, they are finding food that we cannot even see! Someone comments that there is a wonderful Provider for everyone of these, and that a Bible verse says, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms 145:99The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9).
Still heading for the waves that are breaking on the beach, we cross a rocky area where we inspect pools left behind when the tide went out. Some of these pools almost look like flower pots with colorful sea anemones showing a display of delicate tentacles as little fish swim around them. Periwinkles cling to the bottom and sides of their prison. In some pools there are pretty shells, starfish, snails, barnacles, mussels, sea urchins and crabs. We think it must delight the Creator to look into these pools and see all these things that are under His care.
Leaving the tidal pools we have to step around piles of kelp and brown or red seaweed left on the beach. These look like snakes or whips, although some are delicate and lacelike. They tell of storms which have torn them loose from the sea and washed them ashore. Mixed among them are sand dollars, little jellyfish stranded high and dry and sometimes a dead fish, reminding us of the many live ones still out in the water.
How interesting to look on all these strange things and realize they are part of the wonderful creation of “The Mighty God, The Lord of hosts, is His name; great in counsel, and mighty in work.” Jeremiah 32:18,1918Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, 19Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: (Jeremiah 32:18‑19). Did you know that in His Word He has invited you to be one of His children through faith in the work of His beloved Son on Calvary’s cross? “By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law.” Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39).
We expect to finish our visit to the ocean next week.
ML-05/16/1982