Friday, March 6, 2009

The Wonder of a Chicken Egg

This year marks 150 years since Darwin published his Evolution Theory. TO me it makes no more sense today than it did when it was first published.
Our church is experiencing The Truth Project put out by Focus on the Family. In the lesson this week I was wowed in awesome wonder at the intricate creativity of God.
Psalm 19 states, "
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

In Job 12 it continues, " 7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish of the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind."

All of creation declares the work of the Creator. Just ask a chicken egg.

How many of us have ever really thought about or examined a chicken egg? Yet, by learning about it, we can see that it is not just a random evolution from some goo somewhere back in time.

The outer shell of the egg had ten thousand pores. I had no idea. These pores are for the developing chick, allowing it to breathe. If you doubt this, put a raw egg in water and watch the little bubbles. There is a membrane between the shell and the yolk/albumen. When you peel a hard boiled egg, you find this membrane. Two blood vessels attach from the developing chick to the membrane to breathe and expel carbon dioxide through the pores and two attach to the yolk to get nourishment.

After 19 days the chick can no longer get enough oxygen through the pores. At one end of the membrane there is an air pocket (when you peel a hard boiled egg, recall the flat spot on one end). With an "egg" tooth, the chick pecks a hole through to that air pocket, giving it 6 more hours of air - just the right amount of time to peck through the shell and "hatch".

When you think about the intricacy of this, the exact amount of air, the development of blood vessels - the entire process - this is not random chance of evolution. A hen could never figure this out. It is the design of a divine creator.

Look at the peacock and that beautiful pattern on its feathers - look at nature all around - it all informs us of the glory of God.

I am glad to have learned from a chicken egg - are you?

2 comments:

i am supergirl. said...

beautifully said!!

Unknown said...

What a wonderfulful reminder! I am reading this on a beautiful morning that feels like spring. Every season reminds me that God is working and His work revealed throughout the year. But spring is especially beautiful with plants coming back to life as the world turns green again. It's a reminder of the hope of new life in God. Interesting facts about the egg. Ps. 19 is a great reminder of the the season that's about to begin.