There are thousands of kinds of frogs. The tiniest one, a tree-dweller, is less than half-an-inch long. The largest frog in the world is the Giant Frog of Queensland, Australia, which is almost 12 inches long. It is so huge that it can swallow a rat! The largest frog in North America is the Bull Frog which is more than 6 inches long It has a big appetite and eats insects, mice and crayfish. It can stay underwater a long time, keeping its nostrils closed and absorbing oxen from the water through its skin.
Tree frogs have suction cups on their fingers which are moistened with a sticky substance. One very small species enjoys clinging to leaves and swaying in the wind like a boy or girl on a swing. One kind of tree frog in the tropics is so well camouflaged (hidden by its coloring) that it is almost impossible to distinguish from the leaves. It lives in the topmost foliage of tall trees and never comes down to the ground. These frogs are clever builders—they cement leaves tether to collect pools of rainwater in which they lay their eggs.
The four-inch, green Bornean Flying Frog has skin between its toes that stretches out to enable it to make long, parachute-like leaps.
Most frogs dig with their front feet in a forward position, but the European Spadefoot digs with specially designed back feet. If in danger it will quickly disappear backwards into a hole it has dug in this way. This frog has a specially reinforced skull to protect it from injury in case the earth and rocks around it cave in.
The female Pouched Tree Frog has pouches on her back. She lays only a dozen or so eggs at a time. The male picks up these eggs with his hind feet and places them in these pouches where they remain until they hatch out as tadpoles.
In another species the male takes on the responsibility of hatching the eggs. As the eggs are laid by the female, he swallows them. The eggs pass into a special pouch in his throat. They incubate there until they hatch into tadpoles and swim out of the father’s mouth.
The male Midwife Frog takes care of eggs in another way. He takes the eggs from the female, wraps them around his hind legs, then scoops a hole in the mud where he waits while they incubate. After a few weeks he jumps into the water with the eggs still wrapped around his legs. The force of the water breaks open the eggs, and the little tadpoles swim out.
Surely the Lord was pleased to create such an interesting variety of these creatures, and we know He takes care of them day by day. But for men, women, boys and girls who know Him as their Saviour, His care is even greater. It was shown in the great love that led Him to die on Calvary to save them from their sins. He says of them: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” Psalms 32:88I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8).
Have you put your trust in Him? And do you now ask Him to be your guide through life?
ML-04/11/1982