“One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4
This graceful, muscular Asian jungle cat is more fierce and powerful than a lion. Its bright fawn coloring is sharply marked with uneven black stripes. No two animals have identical markings. A tiger’s large head has rather small ears, and a special feature is its amber-colored eyes, so outstanding that a rare and valuable gemstone with a similar design is called a “Tiger Eye.” Long, yellow fangs and powerful legs and feet equipped with sharp claws are its main weapons for killing its food.
When fully grown, a male tiger may measure 10 feet or more from its nose to the tip of its tail and weigh 400 to 500 pounds. A female weighs close to 300 pounds. Their average life span is 11 to 15 years.
A mother tiger carries her kitten-size cubs by grasping the loose skin over their necks with her teeth, just like a mother cat carries her kittens. When the cubs are two months old, she trains them to hunt, swim and take care of themselves. She is very loving and protective and often keeps the cubs with her until they are almost two years old.
A tiger usually hunts at night, but if very hungry, it becomes bold and hunts in the daylight. The animals a tiger hunts are seldom aware of being stalked until, with a quick dash and great leap, the tiger attacks and makes the kill. Tigers prefer to live and hunt alone, but at times two will work together if their quarry is an elephant, water buffalo or some other large animal. After gorging on such a catch, neither needs to look for food again for several days.
The Creator has given tigers a well-camouflaged design, whether in the brush or thick grass of swamps or open plains. Their ear-splitting roar can be heard for two miles. Although they seldom harm humans, on occasion people have been terrified to see one suddenly appear out of nowhere and then are relieved to have it disappear just as silently and mysteriously.
Though ferocious, the tiger is part of God’s creation. In disposing of weak, sickly animals that might spread disease, it plays an important role in the balance of nature, ordered by the Creator, “in whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing” (Job 12:10).
We look with wonder on His care over all living things, but we should consider the special care He gives to mankind. King David said, “Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together” (Psalm 49:1-2). Have you “given ear,” not only to His care, but to His loving invitation to accept everlasting life through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?
ML-05/10/2015