In this verse Satan is described as a lion prowling through the earth. A similar example could be a vicious shark in the ocean. About 350 varieties of sharks are found throughout the world. The smallest is the 10-inch dwarf; the largest is the 40-foot whale shark, weighing 15 tons or more. In spite of their frightening looks, most are harmless, living on fish, squid and shellfish. Two huge species, the basking shark and the whale shark, have such small teeth that they can only eat tiny drifting sea life and small fish.

The hammerhead is the oddest looking of the sharks with its head extending out two feet or more on each side of its body — like the rudder of an airplane. A large eye is on each end, and its mouth is underneath on the body. The ugliest shark is the horn, or pig shark, with its jaws and teeth at the front of its pig-like snout. These lay eggs in tough capsules shaped like big screws, working them into rocky places where they remain until the little ones hatch out.

Many people consider the blue shark to be the most beautiful, with its bluish tint which is dark on top and light underneath. Its huge eyes and a small mouth give it a smiling appearance, and it shows only curiosity toward swimmers. Thresher sharks, which often work in pairs, beat the water with their tails. This causes small fish to group together, and then they move in for the kill.

The most dangerous of all sharks is the great white shark with its huge jaws and dagger-like teeth. Although often ignoring swimmers, it sometimes will attack them. The injuries from their bites are severe, sometimes resulting in death. Tiger sharks which are 15 to 30 feet long, with rows of long, sharp teeth, are also vicious and also have been known to attack people.

Small fish, such as pilot fish and remoras, often swim beside sharks, not actually guiding them, but staying nearby to get stray pieces of food dropped from the sharks' meals.

In spite of the shark's bad reputation, God has a place for them in His creation. As scavengers they help keep the ocean clean. They are valuable to man directly in that valuable medicines and vitamins are extracted from various parts of their bodies, and millions of pounds of shark meat are eaten as food every year.

Although some sharks are harmless, few of us would trust these creatures since at best they are unpredictable. And so it is with mankind, too. How careful we should be in any relationship with ungodly people, for many of them are used by Satan to lead others to do evil things. Scripture speaks concerning this: "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established" (Proverbs 4:26).

In Psalm 118:8 we read, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." And in Proverbs 3:5,6 the right way to go is explained: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." This is excellent advice for each one of us to follow.

Copied with permission from Messages of God's Love. More articles in The Wonders of God's Creation (Volume 1-4) by Sidney R. Gill, also published by Bible Truth Publishers.