“No, Thanks. I’d Rather Walk.”

Deuteronomy 13:4
“Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”

As everyone knows, most sea creatures get from place to place by swimming. Others – like the octopus – use a form of jet propulsion. But one thing that no one expects to see on the sea floor is a fish that walks! And what makes this creature even more unusual is that the spotted handfish gets about on pectoral fins that look almost like human hands!

This unusual form of locomotion isn’t the only almost-human thing about the spotted handfish. According to an article in Science News, they “fish the way people do, with patience and lures.” In their words, “The fishes’ dorsal fins’ front spines have evolved flamboyant deceptions: tendrils that wiggle like worms, a pom-pom on a stick, a lump with stripes and an eyelike spot.”

Once these lures bring the fish’s lunch within range, in a flash the fish opens its mouth, creating a suction that sucks the prey into the fish’s mouth.

Despite its skills at fishing, the spotted handfish has become one of the most endangered creatures on Earth. Efforts are underway to keep them from total extinction. Let me add that our Creator has also made considerable efforts of His own for rescuing another kind of walking creature from a fate even worse than extinction. Humans have disobeyed God and refused to walk in His ways. Thankfully, our Creator entered His creation and died on the cross to rescue us from a fate far worse than death. Oh, what a Savior!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, the Bible tells us that we are like sheep that have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way … but You placed on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Thank You for such great salvation! Amen.

Author: Steven J. Schwartz
Ref: Susan Milius, “These fish would rather walk,” Science News, 10/3/15, pp. 4-5. Photo: The endangered spotted handfish. Courtesy of CSIRO Marine Research. (CC BY 3.0)

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