The Wonders of God’s Creation
Although they look like snakes, eels are really a fish, but they are cored with a slippery coating rather than with scales. The males prefer to spend most of their lives in rivers near the ocean, while the females go upriver to streams or lakes.
After two or three years in fresh water, both males and females head for the ocean. Those in landlocked lakes (lakes with no water route to the ocean) have a difficult time starting their journey. First they gather in great numbers at the lake shore. Then they leave the lake, wriggling their way for a day or two across fields and ground wet with rain or dew (this is where their slippery bodies are useful). They head for a stream that leads to the ocean. God has equipped them with special gills to keep enough moisture while out of water on this part of their trip.
When they reach a stream that leads to the ocean, they swim downstream, joining others on the way. Many of them are caught in traps set by people who like to eat them. The eels that make it to the ocean, both males and females, start a long migration to the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda. Here many miles of seaweed floats on the ocean. This is teeming with food which will pride for the needs of baby eels that will soon appear. In the Sargasso Sea, American eels, which have taken up to a year to make the trip, meet with European eels, whose journey takes much longer. They mix together like old friends, but never crossbreed. Soon the females deposit thousands of eggs deep below the ocean surface, after which both the male and female die.
When the babies hatch they are about one-quarter inch long, thin as a leaf and transparent (see through). They rise to the surface where they feed for about a year. Then the American eels begin the long trip back to the home of their parents. The European eels remain another year to gain strength for their journey which will take about three years. When both species reach the streams from which their parents left, they are still transparent, but are long and round and are called Elvers. Just like their pants, the males remain at the mouth of the stream and the females go inland—the cycle continuing just as God designed it.
How can these little inexperienced eels reach their destinations with no parents to guide them? The answer is exactly what Scripture tells us of every creature in the sea: “These wait all upon Thee.” Psalms 104:2727These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. (Psalm 104:27). Of course they do not realize they are following instructions from their Creator, but He gives them the instinct to follow the paths He has marked out.
Did you know the Lord has a pathway for every boy and girl, too? His path is called “the path of life” and is the way to heaven and everlasting joy. The Psalmist wand to follow this path and prayed: “Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path.” These Scriptures are in Psalms 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11) and 27:11. In John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If we know Him as our Saviour, then we are sure of being on the right path where He can teach us His way. Are you walking in that pathway?
ML-11/15/1981