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, as well as the Pacific coast areas from the Aleutian Islands to South America. They are more abundant in the colder waters, but there are untold numbers elsewhere as well.
The longest on record was 57 feet from tip to tip, but larger ones undoubtedly live in deep places of the ocean where they are rarely seen by men. These are very vicious squid, able to kill small whales, porpoises, octopi, etc. and 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 ones represent the greatest number and are harmless, living off tiny forms of marine life.
Regardless of size, all squid have bullet-shaped bodies, equipped with two large fins at the tail end and eight, long, snakey arms equipped with rows of tooth-like suckers rising up from the top of their heads. A 50-pound squid can spread these arms out about ten feet beyond its body and in addition has two, long, whip-like tentacles that reach even farther. The purpose of these arms and tentacles is to catch victims and pull them into a parrot-like beak in the center of the squid's head, where the captive is rapidly eaten.
Long before airplanes had jet engines, squid used a jet system provided by their Creator for swimming. 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 "siphon" near its head to provide speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Usually a squid swims backwards, but the siphon is flexible and can be pointed up, down, ahead or sideways, to move the creature any direction.
Except for those seen in fish markets, it is unlikely any of us will ever come face to face with any of these creatures. However, they are really a wonderful example of God's handiwork, as the Bible states: "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind." Gen. 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 the God of love as well, as 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 Savior?