Some people become scared when they are up only as high as eighteen to twenty feet off the ground, yet this is the height from which a large giraffe views its surroundings. The giraffe is the world’s tallest animal, and about half its height is in its long neck that has a mane so short that it looks as if it were trimmed with clippers. Its pretty head has two short horns, standing straight up. Its large deer-like eyes have long, black lashes that reveal its normally gentle character. High in the air, its eyes can see in almost every direction without turning its head.
The giraffe’s long neck has only seven vertebrae (the same as people), but these are large, strong and quite flexible. The neck’s exposed surface serves as a cooling tower in the hot African climate, and the longest windpipe in creation exhales stale air from the lungs. Then with great force it inhales, bringing in a fresh supply of air, which also helps to cool it.
God has placed a wide and interesting variety of animals throughout the world, and He has adapted each one to its own particular surroundings. In East Africa there are a dozen species of the giraffe, all pale fawn or cream colored with large rust, yellow or brown spots over their entire bodies. No two have exactly the same pattern. Perhaps the natives originally called them “zarafa,” meaning “swift creature,” because they did not know what else to name a beast that looked something like a cross between a leopard and a camel.
The high, bobbing head of a running giraffe is an immediate signal of danger to its companions, and they all promptly begin running. Actually, they have very few enemies, except that lions and hyenas will kill the calves if the parents are not close by to defend them with their sharp, powerful hooves that can kick in all directions. These twelve-inch hooves, at the base of seven- or eight-foot leg bones with long, strong muscles, can easily kill a lion. Usually the only adult giraffes lions will attack are the sick or injured. When giraffes need to defend their young, or when fights occur between jealous males, the necks of giraffes, topped with tough, horned skulls, also make vicious weapons when slammed against an opponent.
When the psalmist thought of the Creator’s marvelous creation, he wrote, “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:8-98Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:8‑9)). As we consider the many ways the Lord has provided for all living creatures, we also should “stand in awe of Him” and thankfully accept His loving offer to be not only our Creator, but our Saviour as well.
(to be continued)
ML-09/20/2009