We can’t see God with our eyes. But God has made amazing things we can see that show us something about our awesome God. God created towering mountains and blazing stars and all sorts of wild and wonderful animals, and God gave us incredible eyes to see it all!
How Do Eyes Work?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and watched your pupils get bigger or smaller? Your eyes do this in order to change the amount of light being let in. The light is focused on the retina, and then information about the light travels along the optic nerve to the brain. The picture on the retina is upside down, but the brain turns it right-side up.
People see objects with both eyes because our eyes are located on the front of our face. This helps us to know how far away something is. Cats and dogs also have this kind of vision. Other animals such as deer and rabbits only see objects with one eye at a time because their eyes are on each side of their head. This allows them to see a wider area around them and watch out for predators.
To see the difference seeing with one eye or two eyes makes in how far away an object looks, try this. Hold a pencil in each hand, and hold your arms out in front of you. Now close one eye and move the pencils toward each other, trying to get the ends to touch. Then try it again with both eyes open.
Extreme Eyes
Chameleons can move each of their eyes in different directions at the same time, letting them see all around and look at objects with just one eye or with both. Check out this YouTube video to watch a chameleon move its eyes: bit.ly/2Z54j0W.
Eagles have such powerful eyesight that they are able to see a rabbit as far away as three kilometers (almost two miles)!
Giant squids have the biggest eyes—about the size of a dinner plate!
Giant clams have the most eyes, with hundreds of tiny “pinhole eyes” that help them detect predators.
God’s Eyes
Did you know that the Bible talks a lot about God’s eyes? Look up these verses to find out what God sees and looks at.
- Psalm 34:15
- Psalm 139:16
- 2 Chronicles 16:9
About the Author
Rachel Lancashire is a freelance writer with an educational background in wildlife. She grew up in the Christian Reformed Church and currently attends Gilmour Memorial Baptist Church in Selwyn, Ont.
