Ships of the Desert
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” [Mark 10:25]
Most people know that camels are very well adapted to sandy desert life. Their soft feet spread out so they won’t sink into the sand. To protect their eyes from sand, they have two thick rows of eyelashes. They can see through a thin third eyelid during a sand storm. Camels can close their nostrils against blowing sand and have extra hair inside their ears to keep sand out. Contrary to popular myth, camels don’t store more water than other animals, yet they can handle extreme dehydration much better, enabling them to go for days without needing a drink. Camels have been known to safely lose body water equivalent to 40 percent of their weight, a loss that would be lethal to any other animal. To make up for previous fluid loss, camels can take in very large amounts of water at one session, drinking up to 27 gallons of water in 10 minutes. Because of the wide swings in desert temperatures between night and day, the camel’s system has the ability to endure very large fluctuations in body temperature (from 97.7 to 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Before the Civil War, efforts were made to use camels for crossing U.S. deserts, but the experiment failed. Their soft-padded feet were unsuitable for much of the rocky southwestern terrain. They frightened horses and they were detested by their handlers, who were accustomed to more docile mules. In contrast, at about the same time, camels were introduced to Australia, where they flourished. Wild camels are now scattered through the arid interior of Australia and are estimated to number over 500,000. Camels and kangaroos live side by side. For centuries camels have been called “ships of the desert” because they resemble boats floating across a sea of sand and can travel up to 100 miles in a day, carrying loads as heavy as 1,000 pounds.
Keep this picture in mind when you consider Jesus’ words: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). Jesus also told a parable about a rich man who landed in Hades that has been greatly misunderstood. His point was that rich people who have no concern for others have their only reward in this life. Riches can easily distract us from the kingdom of God.
