Mysteries of the Piranha

Psalm 50:10
“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”

When the piranha is mentioned, nearly everyone thinks of a picture of a herd of cattle crossing the Amazon – and splish, splash – nothing is left but bones. Actually, the piranha is a rather interesting fish. It certainly seems to be the bearer of a few tricks the Creator wanted to play on those who want to explain the world without Him.

According to evolutionary theory, new species evolve when there is some way of making a living in nature that no one else is using. So, when you have many similar species, each one should have its own specialization. However, while there may be a dozen different species of piranha living in a portion of a river, they all eat the same things and live in the same ways. As one evolutionist put it, “This clashes with evolutionary theory.”

We who believe in a Creator can understand His creating variety just for the sheer joy and exhilaration of creativity. As a result, we are not surprised to find different varieties of the same kind of fish all making the same living.

Even when piranhas do stage one of their mass attacks for which they are famous, each one takes a bite, then waits in line until the others take their turns. Many evolutionists have difficulty explaining this. Selflessness is not supposed to exist in an evolved world. Could this selfless behavior be left over from when the creation was perfect? It certainly is a provision by God to make life a little better for the piranha.

Prayer:
Lord, I thank You for the joy that fills me as I consider the wonderful variety of creatures You have made. Help me to better learn how to show others Your hand in the creation so that they may be led to Your forgiving grace. Amen.

Author: Paul A. Bartz

Notes:
“The piranha’s fishy feeding habits.” Science Digest, Oct. 1983. p. 29.