Protection Underseas

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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In the Red Sea, a fish called amphiprion takes the responsibility of driving away the enemies of one of the sea anemones. This particular anemone relies on this fish for its protection. It will not even fully open unless it senses that its “friend” is close by. The fish communicates this to the anemone by touching it occasionally.
The anemone will never intentionally hurt its friend. Any other fish touching its poisonous tentacles is immediately stung to death. If something does happen to accidentally push the amphiprion into the tentacles of its friend, it will be seized and eaten. The communication between them breaks down at these times.
The benefit of this relationship to the amphiprion is that it shares the food caught by the anemone. Although it looks like a lovely plant, the anemone is really a sea animal and lives mostly by eating other sea life.
A similar arrangement exists between another sea anemone and the snapping shrimp. This anemone has many enemies among the larger fish that like to feed on it. Although not very large, the shrimp can make a loud snap with its large claw. The noise frightens the anemone’s enemies, and they leave very quickly.
The anemone does not bother or sting the shrimp. It is allowed to swim freely around the anemone and to burrow near its base where it hides from its own enemies.
God has made these residents of the ocean helpers to one another. How nice to have a friend standing beside you when danger threatens or when life’s problems seem too great to bear alone.
God gives a very true picture of every one of us in the Bible: “Man is born unto trouble” (Job 5:77Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7)). The Apostle Paul also recognized this condition when he asked, “Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” His happy answer was: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-2524O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:24‑25)).
We are happy to tell you there is “a Friend that [sticks] closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:2424A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)) and to repeat King David’s words: “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee” (Psalm 9:9-109The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:9‑10)).
These comforting words speak of the very same Lord who extends a loving invitation to you: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). And to those who have already accepted Him as their Saviour, He reassuringly says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)).
Do you know this Friend as your personal companion and guardian?
ML-05/19/2002