Connecting with Roxy the Octopus

This week, there was a heartwarming story about a diver named Scott who formed a bond with an octopus in a Kiama Rock Pool. He named the octopus Roxy. Apparently, Roxy would wrap her tentacles around Scott’s fingers, such was their mutual trust and connection.

Following on from “My Octopus Teacher”, this story informs us that we have underestimated the Octopus – they are much smarter than we give them credit for.

Several points can be made in this space. Creation is beautiful and good (Gen 1). Calvin calls nature “the theatre of God’s glory” – the place where God’s invisible qualities manifest (Rom 1:20).

Even though all creation is tainted by the fall, God sustains all his creatures. All creatures look to God for their continued well-being (Ps 104:27). And God rejoices in the beauty of his creation (Ps 104:31).

Creation and nature sings praises back to God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech (Ps 19:1).” Paul even appeals to nature as a witness to God’s providence: “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons (Acts 14:17)”.

As beautiful as nature is, it is not equal to the splendour of humans. We alone bear God’s image (Gen 1:26). We rule over the works of God’s hand (Ps 8:6), they are not our equal.

Some humans are given to exploiting nature. They fail to appreciate that we are called to work and take care of God’s creation (Gen 2:15) – that is, to both utilise and steward. Other humans are given to worshipping creation. The beauty of nature exists not to elicit worship from us, but to point us to a creator and worship him, as nature itself does.

By all means, marvel at the video of Roxy, but marvel more at the God who made heaven and earth.

By Rev. David Rietveld