In the Red Sea, a fish called amphiprion works together with one of the sea anemones by driving away its enemies. This particular anemone relies on this fish for its protection. It will not even fully open unless it knows that its “friend” is close by. The fish communicates this to the anemone by touching it occasionally.
The anemone will never try to hurt its friend. Any other fish touching its poisonous tentacles is immediately stung to death. If something does accidentally push the amphiprion into the tentacles of its friend, it will be seized and eaten. Communication between them apparently 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 flower, the anemone is really a sea animal and lives mostly by eating other sea life.
A similar mutual benefit exists between another sea anemone and the snapping shrimp. This anemone has many enemies among the larger fish that like to feed on it. The shrimp, although not very large, can make a loud snap with its large claw. The noise is so frightening that the anemone’s enemies leave quickly.
The benefit to the shrimp is that the anemone does not bother it or sting it. It is allowed to swim freely around the anemone and to burrow near its base where it hides from its own enemies.
How nice it is to have a friend standing beside you when danger threatens or when life’s problems seem too great to bear alone. God has made these ocean residents helpers to one another, but it is not likely that they understand more than that a helper is nearby.
God gives us a very true picture of ourselves 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 recognized this when he asked, “Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Here is his happy answer: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:2425).
Yes, we are happy to tell of “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)). King David said, “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 9:910).
ML-02/12/2006