Many varieties of lizards, iguanas, chameleons and geckos live in warm areas of the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Let’s take a look at a few closely related ones, including the iguana which makes its home where sunshine is abundant, particularly in desert areas.
While lizards are rather drab and plain looking, iguanas are often colorful. One is the Fijian crested, a resident of the Fiji islands. It is large, about three feet long with its tail taking up more than half of that length. It is colored in shades of green, usually banded, with white stripes around its body and tail. It has amber eyes and a yellow snout. It has long, spidery “fingers” on the ends of each leg. The two center fingers are about twice as long as the other three, but all are equipped with sharp claws to help in climbing trees where it makes its home. Like many other iguanas, this one eats mostly leaves and flowers, but it is also fond of crickets and other insects.
Another, the desert iguana, is much smaller and is a native of the American deserts. It can stand hotter temperatures than most others, partly because it is a night worker and it is seldom outside during the day. It nests under fallen branches of Joshua trees and yucca plants. Desert country is, of course, usually barren except for the Joshuas, yuccas, cacti, sagebrush and creosote bushes. It is from the creosote bush that this little fellow gets most of his food, climbing into the bush to eat its flowers and foliage. This iguana also eats insects. The Creator has given it a digestive system that takes the moisture from this food to satisfy its thirst in a land where no water may be found.
As we see how these obscure animals are provided for, we recall how the psalmist was impressed with God’s care over all His creatures: “These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season” (Psalm 104:2727These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. (Psalm 104:27)). “He giveth to the beast his food” (Psalm 147:99He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (Psalm 147:9)).
Iguanas and lizards have no way of knowing their Creator is watching over them, but in the Bible we learn how much He loves and cares for every boy and girl and grown-up. One verse says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:1717Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)). Have you ever thanked Him for His many gifts and especially the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be your Saviour?
(to be continued)
ML-08/08/1999