It is in the white, cold, lonely world of the Arctic where the Polar Bear lives. The Lord shelters it from the cold with a thick layer of fat underneath long, shaggy fur. Its fur has insulating air spaces between the hairs. This impressive animal is about five feet high at its shoulders, seven feet or more in length, and may weigh half a ton. It is extremely strong, and can pull a 500-pound seal out of the water with just one paw. It is much like its brown and black bear cousins, except for its color, a long pointed head, and a more streamlined body.
God has prepared it well for its surroundings. When the sun shines on snow and ice, Eskimos have to take special care to avoid painful snow-blindness. But the Polar Bear has been given built-in protection. It has three eyelids and a special membrane over its eyes. Then too, this big fellow must be very careful when walking across ice floes or traveling over ice and snow. It would find it difficult to walk on such slippery surfaces if it were not equipped with a covering of tough hair on the bottom of its feet that gives it a good grip.
Polar bears eat mostly seals. They lie on the thick ice, waiting for one to pop up at its breathing hole. Sometimes it will quietly swim to the end of the ice where a seal is sunning and catch it. Cold water does not bother the Polar Bear. God has given it partially webbed feet and specially jointed legs which help make it a very good swimmer.
While its sight and hearing are poor, its sense of smell is keen and can alert it to prey as much as twenty miles away. It makes its home in an icy den where the female gives birth late in winter to two or three cubs which are about the size of chipmunks. Two months after they are born she takes them out of the den and begins their two-year training.
Besides seals, Polar Bears eat salmon, foxes, birds and occasionally a reindeer. Hunters have to keep a wary eye open when one is around since they will kill sled dogs and steal animals from their traps.
It seems cruel that the Polar Bear must kill so ruthlessly. It was not like this in the beginning. It was sin that brought this change into the world. However, there is a time coming when “the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11:77And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (Isaiah 11:7).
But before that peaceful time comes, God is going to bring punishment on this sinful world and all those who have refused the gift of salvation He has offered. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour who died to bear that punishment in your place if you will only accept His invitation: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). Won’t you accept His invitation today?
ML-01/24/1982