MOST of my little readers, I have no doubt, have taken notice and interest in frogs and think them strange little creatures.
Many wonderful and interesting things could be written about the frog, but we will not have space sufficient in this little paper, save to draw attention to one or two things which speak to us of God’s wonderful power and wisdom as Creator.
There are many different kinds of frogs and, I have no doubt, the kind of frog spoken of in Exodus was very different than the common frog found in this country and Europe.
In Egypt they are of a bright green color and spotted and are in great numbers in the rivers and marshes. The chief interest of the frog lies in the curious changes which it undergoes before it attains its, perfect condition; from the jelly-like substance dotted with black spots, which lie in the shallows of rivers or ditches, till we get the perfect frog.
The egg or jelly-like substance changes into a little black grub-like creature, with a large head and a flattened tail. By degrees it gains strength, and at last fairly breaks its way through the egg and is then a little tadpole, sometimes called pollywog, toe-biter, or horsetail. The next change that is noticeable is a double tuft of finger-like appendages on each side of the head. When they have attained their full size they begin to diminish and the shape of the head and body, is much altered. In a short time they disappear, being, drawn into the cavity of the chest. Just behind the head two little projections appear through the skin, which soon develop, into legs.
Presently another pair of legs make their appearance in front, and the tail is gradually absorbed into the body.
The changes inside the frog are as wonderful as what are seen on the outside, but I will not occupy you longer with these changes, nor describe the changes in the lungs and other organs, for I believe sufficient has been said to give us to see the wonderful design which God alone could have given, providing, for the, little creature too in its various stages, supplying it with food all through its life and has also made it to live either on the dry ground or in water.
Well may the Psalmist say:
“Marvelous are Thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well.” Ps. 139:14.
Not only, dear children, has God wonderfully created all things and cares for them, but after He put man on this earth, he disobeyed Him, and that was sin, and thereby he lost the happy provision God had made for him and brought upon himself all the sorrow and sickness that is in this world today. But God would not leave him in that condition forever so in His love and grace He planned to take man from the world up to heaven where he would never sin any more. How was this to be done? Ah, God had an only Son and He sent Him down into this world to become like us, except in a sinful condition and He was therefore the only One who was able to deliver us out of our sinful condition by dying in our stead and there bore the punishment for us. Then He rose from the dead and went back to heaven a victorious One over sin and all its effects and the judgment deserved for it; and now all who will put their trust in Him, accept Him as the One whom God sent to deliver, He will take up to be forever with Himself.
God is a wondrous Creator and we can say His love and grace have excelled in thus giving His Son for us who are disobedient creatures, and then in taking us up to the glory where sin will never enter.
O, dear children, thank God for His love, fear Him, and praise Him for all His wondrous works.
ML 09/14/1902