The Wonders of God’s Creation
We are all familiar with the vicious-looking jaws and teeth of the crocodile, which are able to rip apart the flesh of almost any anal. But while these teeth are very strong and sharp, they sometimes become infested with maggots (tiny worms) and other parasites, which may give the crocodile a “toothache.” However, God’s wonderful creation has provided an unusual way to relieve this problem.
When the crocodile needs dental attention, he will crawl onto a bank and lie with jaws wide open, sometimes going to sleep in that position. Soon a little bird, the Spurwing Plover (sometimes called the Crocodile Bird), comes along and sees the open mouth as an invitation to a tasty meal. It goes right into those terrible-looking jaws and hops around the inside of the crocodile’s mouth, eating all the parasites. When it is finished, those big teeth are all clean and ready to go into action again.
What an amazing thing this is! The crocodile usually snaps its jaws closed on any object that touches them—except, that is, when it is the Crocodile Bird. Somehow it knows that this bird is its friend, and it will not harm it.
The Plover also helps the crocodile in other ways. Flies are always bothering these big creatures. They attack their eyes and sometimes cause infections to begin in them. After finishing its dental duties, the little bird goes after these flies, much to the relief of its big companion.
It is doubtful that either the bird or the crocodile perform this way because of any real friendship, but rather because there are benefits gained by both of them. Yet we cannot help but wonder at this unusual relationship. It is another example of how the divine Creator watches over all His own.
How does this little bird know it will not be crushed in the jaws of the big reptile? What keeps the crocodile from snapping its jaws shut when the bird is inside them? Surely they never had opportunity to practice this relationship. The answer is that this was arranged by God, whose interest is not only in creating, but also in taking care of all His creatures.
While the crocodile does not harm the little Plover, it will quickly attack anything else. Its ways rind us of an enemy whose evil ways would trap us and of whom we are warned: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8). This enemy wants to keep our thoughts away from God, knowing that when he does it only leads to sorrow and judgment. Our resource, through faith, is in the Saviour, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). Is your trust in Him?
ML-05/17/1981