The Camel and The Eye of a Needle “Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24

The Facts, Please! The Arabian camel, who lives in the vast deserts of Asia and North Africa, is a big animal. Except for the elephant, he is the largest animal trained and used by man in travel and work. He usually stands six feet tall at the shoulders, with his hump rising one foot above its back.

More Facts, Please! The camel’s hump, which is his pantry, is made up of flesh and fat, weighing about 80 pounds. The fat is absorbed into his system when he is far out in the desert and cannot find any food. Water is stored in his stomach and released as needed. He has a tough, horny mouth that enables him to eat thorns from desert plants. His powerful teeth grind these up, and his stomach has the ability to digest them.

More Facts, Please! The camel has a thick padding on his knees, so he can kneel for people to mount him or load him with goods. His broad, two-toed foot, which is wide and well-padded, can walk across the hot desert sand easily. He can close his nostrils in a sand storm to keep sand from getting into his nose. He also has a double row of bushy eyelashes that prevent sand from getting in his eyes in a sandstorm. With is keen sense of smell, he can locate water from far away in the desert.

More Facts, Please! In this Bible story Jesus talks about a camel and a needle’s eye. The Bible mentions sewing as far back as Adam and Eve, who sewed fig leaves for a covering. Samples of needles found in archaeological digs have been made of iron, bone, or bronze and are similar to those of today.