FIRE-BREATHING DRAGONS?
It is interesting to speculate whether "fire-breathing monsters" have some basis in reality. After all, who would have thought that an electric eel or firefly was real if they had not been seen? A few lines of evidence should be considered. First, there is the fairly clear teaching of scripture. The Bible leaves very little room for a hyperbole or metaphor interpretation. Job 41:19-21 says of Leviathan that, "Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goes smoke as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth." Secondly there is the matter of historical evidence. That is, multiple societies that were widely separated tell stories of fire-breathing dragons. Why did they all chance upon the dragon? Thirdly, we can consider some biological evidence. There is a "fire-breathing" beetle called the bombadier beetle. Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydroquinone are contained in separate chambers in the beetle’s abdomen, from where it can be ejected to confront a predator with an explosive mixture reaching 212º F! Lastly, there is some paleontological evidence that a skull arrangement could have accommodated "fire-breathing." In his delightful book Dinosaurs by Design, Dr. Duane Gish discusses how the hadrosaurs’ nasal cavities could easily have connected to chemical reserves in the hollow, horny crest. Perhaps Leviathan used this ability as a defensive weapon, just like the beetles. No wonder God uses him to make the point in verse 10 "None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?" Indeed, the Bible describes God Himself as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
nanoboy
It is interesting to speculate whether "fire-breathing monsters" have some basis in reality. After all, who would have thought that an electric eel or firefly was real if they had not been seen? A few lines of evidence should be considered. First, there is the fairly clear teaching of scripture. The Bible leaves very little room for a hyperbole or metaphor interpretation. Job 41:19-21 says of Leviathan that, "Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goes smoke as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth." Secondly there is the matter of historical evidence. That is, multiple societies that were widely separated tell stories of fire-breathing dragons. Why did they all chance upon the dragon? Thirdly, we can consider some biological evidence. There is a "fire-breathing" beetle called the bombadier beetle. Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydroquinone are contained in separate chambers in the beetle’s abdomen, from where it can be ejected to confront a predator with an explosive mixture reaching 212º F! Lastly, there is some paleontological evidence that a skull arrangement could have accommodated "fire-breathing." In his delightful book Dinosaurs by Design, Dr. Duane Gish discusses how the hadrosaurs’ nasal cavities could easily have connected to chemical reserves in the hollow, horny crest. Perhaps Leviathan used this ability as a defensive weapon, just like the beetles. No wonder God uses him to make the point in verse 10 "None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?" Indeed, the Bible describes God Himself as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
nanoboy