“Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.” Acts 4:2424And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (Acts 4:24).
Like other bivalves, mussels have twin shells with the two parts hinged with a strong ligament in the middle. The shells are made of limestone which they manufacture themselves. Mussels are most commonly found on offshore rocks at ocean beaches where they are alternately covered with water and exposed to the air. Food from the waves is sucked in through a long siphon and passed on to their gills where thousands of microscopic hairs trap it and force it on to their mouths.
Living in groups, the edible Blue Mussel attaches itself to ocean rocks using an adhesive from a gland in its “foot.” Thousands of tons of water beat against it from tides and waves, yet it clings tightly to its home. Isn’t it amazing that such a small form of life can resist such great power?
Another amazing fact is that mussels do not die when the tide goes out and leaves them exposed to the air. They stay alive by retaining water in their shells, during this temporary dry spell, and by moist seaweed and moss draped over them—all a planned part of God’s protective care.
Freshwater mussels are like their ocean cousins, but live on the bottom of a stream or lake. There the female lays thousands of eggs, carrying them in a mantle (a fold in the body wall) attached to her shell until they hatch. Coming out of the egg each little mussel, which is equipped with numerous tiny hooks, attaches itself to a passing fish. It remains there for several weeks, sucking the fish’s blood. This is not very pleasant for the fish, but fortunately does not kill it. After the mussel has grown to a good size it drops to the bottom of the stream to live as an adult, and the fish soon recovers from its ordeal.
One of the mussel’s greatest enemies is the muskrat. Knowing its teeth cannot break the hard shell, the muskrat takes the mussels out of the water one by one, spreads them on the ground and occasionally turns them over. Soon, uncomfortable in the heat of the sun, they open their shells. This is what the muskrat has been waiting for, and he quickly eats them.
Everything about these small creatures reminds us of the wonders of God’s creation and His delight in making such great varieties of all things. Not one of them came through any evolutionary process, for as the Bible tells us, “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... all things were created by Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16).
While they all act by God-given instincts, they cannot know anything about the One who takes care of them. Yet a day is coming when the Lord will be honored by everyone, both small and great. But boys and girls, and adults too, do not need to wait for that future time to praise Him. We can today join the Psalmist in declaring: “Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.” Psalms 63:33Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (Psalm 63:3). Do you know what it is to praise Him?
ML-08/29/1982