Yes, even toads and frogs are included in the above verse, as is every creature God has made. In the last issue the unusual ways of some toads in various parts of the world were considered. Let’s look at a few more.
Among the smallest is Rose’s toad of South Africa which is only about an inch long. Another short one, the two-inch spadefoot, has a sharp spade (shovel) on the inside of each hind foot, something like the nail on your big toe. With these it digs underground to escape desert hot spells, remaining there until the rainy season brings it out again. The spadefoot is sometimes referred to as a frog, but it is more correctly a toad.
Both the Fowler’s toad and the oak toad look twice their actual size when blowing balloons from their mouths to increase the volume of their croaking. Some others make similar balloons, swelling out their throats to increase the volume.
The yellow natterjack of England, with deep brown warts, is also interesting. Looking almost like a tiny bulldog, it doesn’t hop, but runs over the ground. Another, rather peculiar looking, is the pale-green South American granular toad, covered with sharp-looking points that scare would-be attackers, although they are just soft warts.
One species which does not have the normal drab colors of toads is the olive-green Colorado River toad.
It lives in the deserts of the United States and Mexico and is the most venomous (poisonous) of all toads. It has glands in its legs containing poison which when rubbed into the skin of a small animal brings painful death. This is good protection for this species and it is seldom attacked.
Another even more colorful spies, which lives in groups of a thousand or more, is the golden toad. Their colors range from a bright enamel red to a brilliant orange. These make beautiful displays of bright color among the trees and forests of Costa Rica. They do not have to use loud croaks to keep in touch with each other, for their bright colors serve that purpose.
It would take more space than available here to write about all the known varieties of toads, but this little glimpse of them should cause us to admire the Creator’s marvelous work. The Bible’s assurance that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)) includes each of us, too. It is sobering to realize the time is coming when we all must give account of ourselves to God who has been watching and caring for us (see Rom. 14:11,1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12)). Are you prepared for that time?
ML-08/26/1984