The Amazing Salmon
Good Morning,
And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good. Gen. 1:20-21
Every summer millions of salmon run up rivers to spawn. This is one of the most profound reminders in all creation that God was the Grand Designer of everything. Salmon are spawned each year after a dominate male salmon pairs with a female. The female uses her tail to create a spawning bed, called a redd. She then lays her eggs after which the male fertilizes them and does his best to protect them from all the predators. The eggs that make it hatch 30-90 days later. A very small percentage of these new fish survive. The young ones will spend their early lives in the river and then begin a journey that takes them out to sea for the next several years.
After 3-5 years and journeying thousands of miles from their birth place they are ready to spawn. And what a story this is. These fish have been designed by God with a homing device that takes them on a pilgrimage back to the very place of their birth. In Alaska alone there are over 12,000 rivers. Yet these divinely crafted fish swim the thousands of return miles, pick the very river of their birth out of the 12,000 to choose from, and then proceed to find the place on that river where their life began! Astounding! If that does not leave you in awe of our Creator then I don’t know what will.
God looked back on His creation and saw that it was good. It brought Him happiness and pleasure. But there is more. According to Scripture you and I bring him more pleasure. We are more valuable to Him than all the rest of His creatures. Matthew 10:29-31 reads: Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
The next time you are feeling lonely and forgotten, remember the salmon. As incredible as they are, you are even more incredible. Not a hair from your head falls without God’s knowledge. God cares deeply for you and is with you this morning. He wields the power of creation on your behalf.
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:7
Live this week on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein
