Many tourists camping in Africa have been terrified by loud, hideous laughter piercing the darkness. They even might have called their guide for help only to be told, “Oh, that’s just a hyena. Go back to sleep.” There are many hyenas throughout Africa. The one with the hysterical laugh is the largest and is known as the spotted. It is about six feet long and weighs about 150 pounds.
It is an unattractive animal which has yellowish-brown, coarse hair with black spots all over. Its short head with big, erect ears is large in proportion to its body. Its shoulders, long, muscular front legs and clawed feet combine to make the front of its body much stronger than the back, which tapers down on shorter hind legs to a stubby tail.
Other species of hyenas include the brown and the striped, both being somewhat smaller than the spotted. Aside from their differences in appearance, they all have much in common. No other animal on earth has such strong jaws and teeth that can quickly tear flesh and bones apart. Bones as thick as baseball bats are crunched by them as easily as you would break a stick of peppermint candy. They are all scavengers, and their food preference is a dead animal that has started to decay. Or, finding jackals, cheetahs or other small predators eating an animal they have killed, the hyenas will chase them away and steal their food. But they will not try to chase away lions, because the lions would kill them instead.
In the hottest season, reaching 120° in the shade, most of the big game migrates elsewhere and the hyenas have to be satisfied with catching hares, rodents, snakes and birds. During such dry spells with no water around, the only moisture they get is from the blood of their victims. However, if fortunate they may find a patch of wild melons to quench their thirst.
Some may question what purpose hyenas serve in God’s creation. Like the vultures that often quarrel with them over a dead animal, they perform an important service in disposing of decaying flesh that contaminates the air and spreads disease. This is part of God’s way in letting His creation take care of a serious problem.
But the services of hyenas will not always be needed. Speaking of a future time, the Bible says “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:1717For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17). This refers to the coming time after those who are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been taken to heaven, and judgment later falls on the rest of the world. Following those events, there will be a restoring to a perfect world where no sin shall exist. Will you be among those in heaven looking down on this lovely and peaceful scene?
ML-12/30/1984