Daily Devotional \u2013 November 21<\/p>\n
Biology<\/p>\n
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Have you considered the camel\u2019s ability to go days without water, suffer extreme dehydration, and then drink up to 40 gallons at one time? It\u2019s all in their red blood cell design.<\/p>\n
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Camels have red blood cells that are shaped flat, oval, and much smaller than human red blood cells. Human red blood cells are round. When humans become dehydrated, our blood becomes \u201csluggish\u201d as the blood cells get stuck; a 5% water loss can result in serious medical problems. For humans, a 12 % water loss can result in death by dehydration; but not so for a camel, with its smaller, flatter, oval-shaped red blood cells. Even as the camel\u2019s water level drops, its blood just keeps \u2018a flowin\u2019. A camel can lose up to 40 % of its water and still survive.<\/p>\n
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The camel also has an enormous ability to store water in its body. Some camels have been documented to drink 40 gallons at one time. If we drink too much water at one sitting (~ \u00bd gallon or 2 \u00bd liters), our red blood cells start to swell and can actually burst. The camel\u2019s red blood cells are able to expand up to 240% without rupturing while most animals\u2019 red blood cells are only able to expand up to 150%. How did the camel know it needed to have this type of red blood cell to survive harsh conditions? How would this cell evolve? The red blood cells of a camel were obviously designed by God in order for the camel to survive and thrive in dry desert environments.<\/p>\n
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The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.<\/p>\n
~ Isaiah 43:20<\/p>\n
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Source: \"Pearls in Paradise\" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett<\/p>\n