Daily Devotional – July 22

Biology

Coral polyps have built in poisonous “harpoons.” The coral polyp’s tentacles are covered with stinging cells (nematocysts) that shoot and kill the plankton. When zooplankton swim by and accidentally touch one of the stinging cells, the “harpoon” is triggered. In thousandths of a second, the lid on the stinging cell flies open, and the harpoon is released. The barbs on the “harpoon” tear a hole in the prey, and the filament trailing the harpoon enters the hole to inject the poison. The zooplankton dies, and the polyp can then pull the meal into its mouth and digest it in its stomach. Each harpoon can only be used one time. A new harpoon (nematocyst) soon grows in its place. This method of hunting zooplankton requires perfect synchronization of sensory cells, nerve cells and muscle cells of the coral animal. Synchronization takes planning and design. That great planner and designer is God! Coral is not just another pretty ornament – it is a colony of deadly hunters!

God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

~ Job 37:5

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.