Romans 11:34. Who Hath Known the Mind of the Lord?
Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?
The Apostle Paul alluding to God’s infinite wisdom quotes Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? Indeed, Job 21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. And in Job 36:22-23 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
No man can grasp even a little of the infinite wisdom of God. We observe this in God’s creation. How He makes the animals is a display of His infinite wisdom. Taking the example of the camel that can brave the desert terrain is a display of God’s marvelous wisdom that must cause us to give Him complete worship and adoration, to realize that He is God and we are not:
Our body’s normal internal temperature is approximately 37°C with only slight variation over a 24-hour period (about ½ a degree either side). Like many mammals, as we heat up, we sweat to maintain this temperature.
Rather than wasting excess moisture maintaining a constant temperature, the camel’s internal body temperature is regulated so that it steadily increases from 34°C at dawn to 41°C during the hottest part of the day. The camel can then dissipate the stored heat overnight, bringing its internal temperature back to 34°C by the following morning. It’s fine woolly coat assists by insulating against excessive heat gain. It reduces water loss by as much as two-thirds compared with maintaining a constant temperature. When the camel does sweat, it prevents its blood from thickening (a condition that can result in cardiac failure) by replacing lost moisture from other body tissues. Thus, a camel can tolerate a 25 to 30% loss of body mass by dehydration – twice what would be fatal for most mammals.
The red blood cells of the camel also have membrances that permit an unusual degree of swelling. So when a source of water is available, despite the fact that the camel can absorb over 100 litres of water into its body in 10 minutes, they won’t burst under the osmotic variation (the sudden diluting of the blood). The cells of cattle would rupture in the same situation. A thirsty camel is able to further minimize moisture loss by concentrating its urine into a thick syrup. This reduces output to one-fifth of the normal volume, while the faeces produced are so dry they can immediately be used as fuel for fire. A camel doesn’t always need a direct source of water in dry conditions, either.
In cooler weather, if supplied with a source of forage that contains enough moisture, a camel may not drink any water for months. It can also tolerate a much higher level of saltiness in the water, since it needs six to eight times as much salt as other animals in order to absorb and store water. The hump of the camel is not a storage area for water, as commonly believed, but fat, which the camel uses as energy when food sources aren’t available. When food is plentiful, the camel will overeat and store the excess as fat in its hump, which can weigh as much as 45 kg2. As the fat in the hump is converted to energy in times of scarcity, the hump begins to shrink ad can even slip off the back and hang down the side. However, once the camel is able to rest and eat, the hump will become firm and plump again.¹
Truly, as we survey God’s creation, we catch a glimpse of His infinite wisdom that it may cause us to realize His greatness and our nothingness. That we may fear and adore and serve Him. Amen.
¹ Taken from the Creation Magazine.
