"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." 1 Cor. 14:3939Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39).
The rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo are the primary homelands of the big orangutans. When fully grown they may weigh as much as 200 pounds and stand over four feet tall. Known to live as long as 50 years, they are often called by the natives "the old man of the woods." In fact their name in the Malay language means "person of the forest." They are powerful and fierce fighters if attacked. However, in captivity young orangutans are easily tamed and taught tricks for performances in zoos and animal shows.
By man's standards these are really ugly beasts, with their long, orange-colored hairy arms which almost reach to the ground even when they are standing upright. They also have large heads but very small ears and bare faces and hands. These apes are awkward when "walking," often swinging along on their arms that are held like crutches with their knuckles on the ground. They are much more at home in trees, the style of life for which the Creator designed them. There the long arms are helpful in swinging from branch to branch, often for great distances. Actually most of their time is spent high in treetops.
Unlike some other apes, orangutans are not very friendly, preferring to be left alone and yet letting others know they are around by grumbling and bellowing loudly. However, family members are affectionate to one another and particularly to the one baby that is usually born each year. Entirely helpless when born, it is fondly cradled in its mother's arms and for the first two years of its life clings to her back when traveling.
While keeping to themselves, they nonetheless maintain groups, spending most of the day gathering food to satisfy their big appetites. Every evening a new nest is made by bending branches together and adding leaves for a lining. The bent limbs are grasped with fingers and toes which hold on tightly even while sleeping. Some of these nests are as high as 40 feet above the ground and four feet across! The ability to do this is the result of God-given instincts. Additional nests for afternoon naps are often made, and they even pull big leaves over themselves if it is raining. Instinct has also taught them to hold leafy branches over their heads, like umbrellas, when in a rainstorm while away from their nests.
Because they look somewhat like humans and perform clever things, it is claimed by some people that mankind came from such apes in a process called "evolution." But there are many differences. They are strictly of the ape family and all people are of the human family, just as God created them, separate and apart from each other. Look again at the opening Bible verse.
The Lord Jesus did not die for apes, but He did in great love die for the sins of all people who put their trust in Him as their Savior. Have you done this?