“The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship . . . our maker.”
Psalm 95:56
Millions of squid live in the world’s oceans, many of them off the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland on south to the United States’ waters, and also along the Pacific coastal areas from the Aleutian Islands to South America. They are more abundant in the colder waters, but there are also unknown numbers elsewhere.
The longest on record was 57 feet from tip to tip, but larger squid undoubtedly live in deep places of the ocean where they are rarely seen. These are very vicious squid, able to kill small whales, porpoises and octopi, and they would not hesitate to kill and devour a person. But the Creator keeps them at depths where men do not venture except in submarines.
There are nearly 400 species of squid, ranging from huge giants down to only six inches long. The smaller common squid represents the greatest number and is harmless. It lives on tiny forms of marine life.
Regardless of size, all squid have slender, soft, boneless bodies that are dark gray with red spots. They have two fins at the tail end and eight, long, snaky arms attached at the head end, equipped with rows of round sucking discs. A 50-pound squid can spread these arms out about ten feet beyond its body. They also have two long, whip-like tentacles that reach even farther. The purpose of these arms and tentacles is to catch and hold fish and pull them into their mouths where they are rapidly eaten.
Long before airplanes had jet engines, squid used jet propulsion for swimming, provided by the Creator. It works by a loose mantle which fits over the squid’s body below its ugly-looking eyes. This fills with water which squirts out through a muscular tube, making it move backward. However, the tube is flexible and can be pointed up, down, ahead or sideways, to move the creature any direction.
Except for those seen at sea aquariums, it is unlikely any of us will come face to face with any of these creatures. However, they are really a wonderful example of God’s handiwork. As the Bible states, “God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind” (Genesis 1:2121And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21)).
But He is not only the God of creation; He is also the God of love. Another Bible verse tells us, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)). Have you experienced that love by accepting His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Saviour?
DECEMBER 7, 1997
ML-12/07/1997