The Fastest Jaws in the World

Psalm 46:7
“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

If an octopus thinks you have found him in his lair, he will squirt ink in your face and hope, in your surprise, you don’t see him fleeing. On the other hand, challenge a bull, and you will have more fight on your hands than you want. Other creatures will evaluate the situation to determine whether fight or flight is the best response.

The trap-jaw ant has a unique approach to this problem of fight or flight. He can fight, flee or do both at the same time with the same movement. The ant has a unique mandible. It is this jaw that is the secret of the ant’s response to a challenge. If the ant faces a threat and decides to attack, it will strike at the threat with its mandibles and in the movement propel itself up to nine inches from the threat almost simultaneously. If the ant decides to flee, it simply does so by snapping its jaws shut against the ground on which it stands. Its jaw snaps closed at the speed of over 136 miles per hour.

While it is sometimes necessary to protect ourselves from earthly dangers through fight or flight, neither of these will work for the spiritual dangers we face. For those we must trust the strong arm of our risen Savior.

Prayer:
Lord, You are our protecting fortress when danger threatens. Help us to trust You in every situation. Amen.

Notes:
Photonics Spectra, 12/06, p.154, Lauren I. Rugani, “Self-Propelling Picnic Pests.”