Key Verse
“A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows,
is God in his holy habitation. God sets the lonely in families. He brings out
the prisoners with singing,” Psalm 68:5-6a (WEB)
Lesson
When I say lizard do you picture an iguana? If so, you are
correct, iguanas are in fact, one of the most popular lizards. They make
fantastic pets, they are low maintenance and entertaining.1 Iguanas
are amazing creatures. They live in warm habitats because they are cold blooded
reptiles. This means they cannot make their own body heat and must lay in the
sun to stay warm. They often live in deserts and tropical regions. They can be
found in the Americas, Australia, and on many islands. The marine iguana of the
Galapagos Islands even spends part of its time underwater.4
Iguanas come in many sizes and colors. They can be as small
as 5 inches (12.7 cm) and as long as 7 feet (213 cm). The blue iguana can grow
up to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg).2 They can be many colors including grey,
tan, brown, black, and green.1 There is even an iguana that is pink!3
Some iguanas change their color slightly to improve heat absorption or when
stressed.1
Iguanas are often herbivores meaning they eat only
vegetation such as leaves, flowers, or algae. Some eat animals such as worms,
crickets, or small rodents. Iguanas are social creatures and spend a lot of
time laying around in the sun. Males are very territorial so it is a good idea
never to get to close to them in the wild.2 Iguanas are interesting
creatures. The marine iguana sneezes on a regular basis to expel saltwater from
its nostrils.4 Green iguanas are so tough they can drop from a
branch as high as 40 feet (12 meters), hit the ground and survive.2
Iguanas are amazing creatures and great pets, but they make
poor parents. The mother lays her eggs in a burrow in a warm place. She will
lay between 5 and 20 eggs. When she does this the father is long gone. The
mother will then cover the burrow and walk away. Upon hatching the baby iguanas
will be completely on their own in the world. They must fend for themselves for
the next three years until they are grown. Many will not make it to
adulthood.
Thankfully, we have a Father who has promised never to leave
us (Deut. 31:6). In the key verse, we heard that God is a father to the
fatherless. He provides family for the lonely. God is the champion of the weak
and oppressed. He despises actions that hurt others. Our parents may fail us
because of sin. Like the iguana babies we may feel alone. The good news is that
God longs to be your Father and has promised to always be by your side no
matter where you go or what you do!
Questions
Have you ever had a pet lizard?
What do you think about the Iguana leaving its young before
they are born?
How does it make you feel that God wants to be our Father?
Do you believe God when He promises never to leave you?
Sources
1. "Iguanas." Pet
Iguana Care .org, accessed February 03, 2017, http://petiguanacare.org/.
2. Bradford, Alina, "Iguana Fact,” Live Science, June 11, 2015, accessed February 3, 2017,
http://www.livescience.com/51153-iguanas.html.
3. Bryner, Jeanna. "Rare
Pink Iguana Eluded Darwin and Others." Live Science. January 05, 2009.
Accessed February 3, 2017. http://www.livescience.com/9608-rare-pink-iguana-eluded-darwin.html.
4. National Geographic Society. "Marine Iguanas." National Geographic. Accessed February 03,
2017. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/marine-iguana/.
Written by David F. Garner
Pictured above is an Easter Water Dragon
Photo Credit: picman2 via www.pixabay.com