Any swimmer who scrapes against a barnacle-covered object knows how tightly they hang on. Not only are they annoying, but they can cause damage. There are over a thousand species of barnacles in the oceans glued to rocks, pilings, driftwood, boat hulls and other objects. Even many living creatures, such as whales, dolphins, turtles, crabs and large fish, cannot stop them from attaching to their sides, heads, and backs. All operating ships in the ocean waters, even great liners, find barnacles a pest and expense, requiring frequent scraping of their hulls if the ships are to operate well in the water.
The most common barnacles are cone shaped. One variety is called acorn shell; another is called the upright goose. Most are only about one-eighth of an inch wide while some weigh as much as three pounds.
One barnacle can produce 10,000 eggs at a time. These move freely in the ocean for long periods of time until they change to free-swimming larvae and after several moults make a final change into true barnacles. Once they find a surface that appeals to them they cement themselves firmly to it in a head-down position with a self-made glue. Once the glue sets firmly they are attached for life with a bond so tight that storms and waves will never move them, even after they die.
Scientists would like to know how to make this glue, but in spite of great effort and expense they have not yet been able to make anything to compare with it. It is another wonder of God’s creation.
The hard, rough shells of barnacles, growing in layers year by year, represent the protection their bodies need so as not to be eaten by fish and also provide a shelter from the sun when they are exposed at low tide.
Barnacles catch food using six pairs of tiny feathery feet called operculum cirri. These continually weave back and forth in the water from the top, open end of the barnacle’s shell. Tiny particles of food, that are so small it would take a microscope to see them, are caught by these cirri and passed on to their mouth.
Does the Lord God care about barnacles? He certainly does. The Bible says, “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” Psalms 135:66Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (Psalm 135:6). We may not understand why He made them, but we know that as the Creator of all things He has a purpose for them and they are a pleasure to Him.
Remember, too, that He also has made you and watches over you. Is He happy when He sees your life? The Bible tells us, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12). Have you admitted to Him that you are a sinner and accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Saviour?
ML-05/05/1985