A WHALE’S TALE

I recently read or heard that we are just learning to crack the communication code between whales and how they “speak” to one another. That got me to thinking along a different line – the whole idea of how God communicates with us. Sounds crazy, but stay with me on this…

So with whales, researchers have developed some interesting theories. For example,

  • Whale-sounds travel by echolocation (the same way bats communicate). Sound waves move along the water and echoes back to the whale that sent them;
  • Whales create small pods (groups who travel together) who have various and possibly unique ways of communicate with each other;
  • Each pod communicates differently;
  • Researchers have noted that the communication of whales in captivity is different than those in the wild;
  • Whales sing “songs” that can last up to 30 minutes that may communicate various things to other whales;

  • John-dear threw in his two cents worth by telling me that we can’t hear all the ways whales communicate because some sound waves are below our human threshold of hearing. That’s interesting.

If we could communicate with whales, we could speak to them of things they might understand – like plankton, fish, water, ocean. But I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t understand some other concepts like laptops, football or baked potatoes. Or, if they could communicate with us, they might tell us great and mighty things. Job 12:7-8 says, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.” What do they know that we don’t? What has God whispered in the depths of the sea that could teach us more about Him?

In Job 12:22, we learn, “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.” And in Romans 11:33 we see, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! I don’t know about you, but sometimes these things perplex me. God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding are so far above our ability to see, hear and understand. Communication with Him seems nearly impossible. It’s like a Ph.D. trying to explain the theory of relativity to a toddler – or to me. Probably not going to happen.

But then, we underestimate God’s heart for us. Because He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus came to teach us how to communicate with God and with ‘our pod’. He used stories, parables, observation and example. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “My Father entrusted everything to Me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son AND anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” This tells me that He wants to reveal and speak to us.

I’m not a whale-researcher, but I have a theory or two of my own. I believe that God deeply desires community with us and stoops every day to speak. I believe as we learn to walk in His ways, His Spirit who is our guide, reveals His truth, His words, in ways we can understand. And I think that to believe God is too far above us to even want to communicate makes Him too small. So, I keep expecting Him to show up because, among other things, He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you; I am with you always, even to the end of the age; I will send you the Comforter who will guide you into all truth…”

So, what’s your take on this whole whale’s tale?

(some of the above info gleaned from Whale World, http://www.whale-world.com/whale-communication/)

Posted in Living Room, Uncategorized.

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