Striped Wonder

“You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man…” [Psalm 31:20]

Are zebras black with white stripes or are they white with black stripes? We’ll look at this in a moment. But first, let’s consider where zebras come from. There are three species of zebras: the plains, the Grevy’s, and the mountain zebra. They are all from the horse family and all from Africa. An old African tale is that the zebra was a white animal that got its stripes after fighting over a waterhole with a baboon and then falling into a fire. The fire sticks left scorch marks on the zebra, and hence its stripes.

Zebra stripes are not all the same. On the Grevy’s zebra they are more numerous and do not extend to their bellies. The black and white pattern is a form of camouflage called “disruptive coloration,” which breaks up the outline of their bodies. It helps them to hide in grass. (Lion’s are colorblind.) During the day it is not as noticeable. But at night the stripes help them to blend into the darkness when predators are hunting. The stripes can also confuse their distance from enemies. Another theory about their stripes is that when a herd of zebra are together, all these stripes can confuse a predator trying to pick out one lone zebra. They all seem to blend together into one large animal.

A zebra’s shiny coat helps to dissipate heat, and some believe the stripes help it withstand the intense heat from the sun. But are zebras white animals with black stripes or vice versa? People used to believe they were white animals with black stripes because their underbellies are often white. But growing evidence indicates they are probably black animals with white stripes and bellies as additions.

The Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to devour us (1.Peter 5:8). Can the Lord protect us from this enemy and hide us, keeping us safe? David was pursued by an enemy, but God hid him and protected him. “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5).

When Satan is pursuing you, the Lord will protect you. And you don’t need stripes to hide from him!