The Challenge

Light exploded as God’s hand threw out the stars. He then focused on one seemingly insignificant rock circling a yellow ball of fire. With a single word, the waters poured forth, the land separating from the oceans and the sky above turned a brilliant blue. Then as the sun kissed the barren ground, green leaves peeked upwards, stretching to receive more of the life-giving light. Soon, all the land burst with greens, yellows, oranges, purples and every imaginable color in between.

One of the angels watched his Master create the universe in silent awe and wonder.

Just when he thought God had completed his creation, with another simple word and wave of his hand, animals of every shape, size and color poured forth to populate both the land and the waters.

As God’s patient, perfectly adept hands continued to create, the angel’s amazement only increased. His Lord was truly magnificent. Only He could create so many unique living creatures and plant-life; things beyond this angel’s imaginings. The colors He created, the attention to even the smallest, unseen detail and the complexity of each creation astonished him. Watching it all move and fit together so perfectly brought tears to his eyes. Certainly, nothing was impossible for his Creator.

Or was it?

“My Lord,” the angel said, “You have created birds, fish, reptiles and mammals. I wonder, can you create a single animal combining all the attributes that make the birds unique from the mammals, the fish unique from the reptiles and so forth?”

God raised his eyebrow and cocked his head to the side in thought. Then, with a mischievous grin, He went down to a lone continent south of the equator. In a few moments, the strangest looking creature the angel had yet seen stood before him. As it took its first breath and gazed at its Creator, God said, “Go, be fruitful and multiply.”
The animal waddled to a small stream and sniffed the cool, clear water with uncertainty

The angel kneeled beside the bank of the burbling creek to get a closer look.

At first, the angel thought God had played a trick on him. The creature no longer than his arm looked like a mammal. It had dark brown fur, four feet and a tail. But it also had a long, black bill very similar to a duck’s. This thing looked like God had merely pasted together the body of a rodent with the mouth of a bird. But as the animal dove into the water, the angel noticed it was perfectly suited for the water, much like a fish. All the animal’s feet were webbed and it wove and twisted about, using its tail for a rudder. The angel also noticed that although it was a mammal, it laid eggs like a reptile would.

The angel looked back at God, his mouth agape. God laughed.

“What . . . what is that?” the angel asked as the animal came out of the water and started digging into the soft, silty bank.

God considered the question for several moments.

“The Duckbilled Platypus.”

The angel could only nod, still unable to comprehend the odd creature. He continued to watch as it dove back into the creek and scoured the bottom with its beak for small animals to feed upon.

The angel liked the name. It was as unique as the animal itself.

“Go now,” God said with a twinkle in His eyes. “I have other creations to attend to.”

The angel did as God commanded and mumbled to himself, “You'd think I'd know by now to never challenge God.”