Yes, even toads and frogs are included in the above verse, as is every creature God has made. In the last issue we looked at the unusual ways of some toads in various parts of the world. Let’s look at a few more.
Among the smallest is Rose’s toad of South Africa which is only about an inch long. Another small one is the two-inch spadefoot. It has a sharp spade (shovel) on the inside of each hind foot, something like the toenail on your big toe. It uses these to dig underground to escape desert hot spells and then remains there until the rainy season. The spadefoot is sometimes called a frog, but it is more correctly a toad.
Both the Fowler’s toad and the oak toad look twice their actual size when they blow balloons from their mouths to increase the volume of their croaking. Some others make similar balloons by swelling out their throats to increase the volume.
The yellow natterjack of England is also interesting. It has dark-brown warts and looks almost like a tiny bulldog. It doesn’t hop, but runs over the ground. Another is the pale-green South American granular toad. It looks peculiar because it is covered with sharp-looking points that scare away attackers; however, the points are actually just soft warts.
One species which does not have the normal drab colors of toads is the olive-green Colorado River toad. It lives in the deserts of the United States and Mexico and is the most poisonous of all toads. It has glands in its legs containing poison which, when rubbed into the skin of a small animal, brings painful death. This is good protection for this species and it is seldom attacked.
Another even more colorful species is the golden toad. Their colors range from a bright red to a brilliant orange. These live in groups of a thousand or more and make beautiful displays of bright color among the trees and forests of Costa Rica. They do not have to use loud croaks to keep in touch with each other; their bright colors serve that purpose.
It would take a lot more space to write about all the known varieties of toads, but this look at a few should cause us to appreciate a little more the Creator’s marvelous works. The Bible’s reminder that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)) also includes each of us. It is solemn to realize the time is coming when we all must give account of ourselves to God, who has been watching and caring for us. (See Romans 14:11-1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12).) Are you prepared for that time?
JULY 28, 1996
ML-06/28/1996