A Dangerous Wonder

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

The rattlesnake is one of the greater wonders of God’s creation. The eyes of the rattlesnake are different from all other back-boned animals. Rattlesnakes have no eyelids, but their eyes are protected by clear cover-plates. Their yellow lenses slide in and out like binoculars – and, like built-in binoculars, provide detailed magnification of distant objects.

The rattlesnake has many more ways of sensing its environment than we do. Its lower jaw is linked, through fine bones, to its inner ear. With this arrangement, if the rattlesnake places its lower jaw on the ground, it can hear distant footsteps – its jaw acting just like a stethoscope.

Rattlesnakes also adjust their venom dosage to the size of their prey. The larger the victim, the more venom needed – and the rattlesnake knows just how much to deliver. The truth is, about 20 percent of all rattlesnake bites inflicted on humans deliver no venom at all because we are too big for the snake to swallow. While the rattlesnake is dangerous, more people die from bee stings each year than rattlesnake bites.

The abilities of the rattlesnake certainly glorify God, Who designed this amazing creature. Realize that you, too, are fearfully and wonderfully made by the same Creator and that He has given you even more wonderful abilities to use in grateful service to Him.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have given me abilities that I can use to glorify You. Help me to better understand how I can glorify You more with my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
Photo: Timber rattlesnake. Courtesy of Tad Arensmeier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.