Asking Can a nation change...
Illustration
Object:
Asking "Can a nation change its god?" in Jeremiah's day is akin to asking, "Can a leopard
change its spots?" today. (Jeremiah does in fact ask that question, Jeremiah 13:23.) The
expected answer was, "No."
There is a leopard that appears to have changed its spots, however. The famous black panther is, in fact, a leopard or a jaguar that has melanism. Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the cat's genes that is associated with coat coloration and markings. A melanistic leopard appears to be black and often is more aggressive than its normally colored siblings. One explanation for the black cat's aggression is that the black kitten has to fight harder to maintain its place in the family. Although it smells and acts like the rest of the litter, it looks different and therefore has to fight harder for food and mother's attention.
But the question remains: Can a leopard change its spots? The answer is, "No," even for melanistic cats. For although they look black, when they are viewed in bright sunlight, the distinctive rosette spots typical of leopards can be seen. Their spots are there, just hidden.
There is a leopard that appears to have changed its spots, however. The famous black panther is, in fact, a leopard or a jaguar that has melanism. Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the cat's genes that is associated with coat coloration and markings. A melanistic leopard appears to be black and often is more aggressive than its normally colored siblings. One explanation for the black cat's aggression is that the black kitten has to fight harder to maintain its place in the family. Although it smells and acts like the rest of the litter, it looks different and therefore has to fight harder for food and mother's attention.
But the question remains: Can a leopard change its spots? The answer is, "No," even for melanistic cats. For although they look black, when they are viewed in bright sunlight, the distinctive rosette spots typical of leopards can be seen. Their spots are there, just hidden.
