consider the egg

As I was watching a program about penguins the other night I was fascinated by the battle penguin mothers must often fight to protect the eggs they were sitting on from predators or jealous penguins.  I thought about the amazing characteristics of the egg design that God developed.  It's amazing to me that the baby bird must totally form inside this "capsule" while outside of its mother.  The hard shell provides protection from the elements while also supplying calcium for the bone develpment of the baby egg.  The white albumen provides a food source for the first few weeks of development.  The yolk, where the embryo forms, is centered to optimize shock protection.  It has all the nutrients to complete the chick.  As the cells of the embryo rapidly divide, they form three layers.  The outer layer grows into skin and feathers, the middle layer grows into bones, blood and organs, and the inner layer becomes the breathing and digestive systems.  Somehow, the mother bird can distinguish her egg by subtle shape and color distinctions from all other eggs.

We also develop with a degree of protection from a cruel outer world.  The Lord is our shield to guard us from attack and, at the same time, He provides all we need to mature.  We are surrounded by protection and nutrients and one day we will emerge to a world we've never seen, in a body that has been fashioned just for that place.  And He recognizes us each by the unique aspects of our design.

Deuteronomy 22:6 "If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young;"

blessings,
Rob Smith