“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8,98Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8‑9).
The ocean-dwelling Portuguese man-of-war is actually a deadly jellyfish, its beautiful colors being deceptive. Its most visible part, called the crest, is usually a transparent pink with its body being a bright blue, about eight or twelve inches across. Deadly tentacles (unseen from above) hang as long as 60 feet below its body. These are covered with thousands of stinging cells containing poison almost as deadly as a rattlesnake’s.
The air-filled crest provides a sail and also helps keep it afloat. But if frightened, it deflates and immediately the jellyfish drops below the surface. When the danger is past it again pumps air into the crest which rises up firmly, and it continues sailing on its way, propelled by the wind.
Some varieties catch their prey by shooting out stinging harpoons, paralyzing the victim and then disposing of it. The more common ones, however, rely on fish bumping into a tentacle, being instantly poisoned by the stinger, and carried up to the digestive system.
The Portuguese man-of-war is not bothered by many enemies, but big loggerhead turtles are an exception. These turtles are not afraid to swim right into the tentacles, tearing off bites of food which they swallow without harm. The turtle does feel the stingers on the soft parts of its body, but apparently considers the meal worth a little pain.
The man-of-war has an amazing companion that travels with it. A small fish, by the name of nomus, swims among the tentacles without being harmed, picking off the scraps of food stuck to them. Swimming in and out of this den of poison, it tempts larger fish to chase it into the tentacle trap where they cannot escape. The relationship of these two odd companions is another example of how the Creator often uses two dissimilar creatures to help one another.
Swimmers do well to stay away from these vicious things, for they can inflict serious and even fatal stings. Even if a beached man-of-war appears to be dead, avoid it, for it is still dangerous.
This deadly resident of the sea reminds us of Satan, the great enemy of God and man! Just as the man-of-war appears attractive but conceals its deadly poison from view, the devil never tires of trying to deceive every person in one way or another. The Bible warns us that he is capable of appearing as “an angel of light,” deceiving those who discover too late that they are caught in his deadly poison.
What is a safeguard against this enemy? The Bible gives the answer: “The fear [reverence and love] of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:2727The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27). Trust in Him at all times, and when Satan’s temptations come, ask the Lord Jesus to help you turn away from them. Only He can give you the strength to do so.
ML-10/06/1985