Adam’s Animals

One of my favorite programs once upon a time was a TV show called “Zoo Parade.” It featured a wildlife expert named Marlin Perkins. I enjoyed the antics of the various animals as they were brought into TV studio. Lining up animals and talking about their peculiar characteristics was fascinating and still is. A trip to the zoo with the grandchildren is an opportunity to marvel at the variety of animal life God has created. Can you imagine what it must have been like when God brought before Adam several hundreds of animals to name? It has been said that it would have been possible for Adam to name about 3,000 of the basic kinds of birds, domesticable animals, and smaller wild animals in about five hours. Naming the animals was the occasion for the first man to demonstrate his rule over creation.

We are told in the Bible that “the earth brought forth living creatures according to their kinds – livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” Through an economy of words there is given a summary of the creation of domesticable animals (e.g.,cows, dogs, cats), large non-domesticable animals (e.g., dinosaurs), and small animals that crawl or creep close to the ground (e.g., chipmunks, turtles). They were made out of the same material as man, the basic elements of the earth. Evolutionists would have us believe that the existence of similar broken genes in the genomes of humans and chimps proves their common descent. But why not understand similarities between humans and animals as traceable to their Creator?

Animals were made for man, not man for animals. Did Adam and Eve have any pets? We can only imagine. One thing we do know is that one of the animals, a serpent, appeared to Eve. Satan used it as an instrument of deceit. Whatever form the serpent had in the garden, Eve was not frightened. She carried on a conversation with the voice of the evil one with relatively deadly ease. The rest is history. One of God’s fallen celestial creatures used another creature, an animal, to bring our first parents and all other human beings into the domain of spiritual darkness.

As we read on in the story of redemption the world becomes increasingly corrupted by sin. It gets to the point that God was sorry he made man, animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky (Gen. 6:7). How did animals share in God’s curse on living creatures? Did the development of carnivorous appetites make them increasingly hostile to man? What we know is that animals, creeping things, and birds were doomed to die in the deluge. However, enough of them found a home on Noah’s ark so that the new world could be populated again with “birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen. 8:17). It is also stated that after the flood of Noah’s day God gave human beings permission to eat animal flesh (Gen. 9:3). Never has God rescinded this dietary permission. Though restricted in various ways for the nation of Israel by the Mosaic Law, meat is an accepted menu item. But even the Mosaic dietary laws were lifted under the New Covenant (Acts 10:15; 1 Tim. 4:3, 4). Those who choose to be vegetarians have the freedom to do so, but there is no spiritual advantage to a meatless diet. Certainly no Christian has the right to judge other Christians because of what they eat or do not eat (Col. 2:16). The protocol for our nutritional needs is determined by common sense eating and attention to God-honoring care of the physical body.

Because of the curse of sin animals die just as human beings do. Human life is sacred. Animal life is not. God provided garments of animal skin to clothe Adam and Eve in their new sin-conscious world (Gen. 3:21). It was upon two animals that physical death was first visited. It took the death of an innocent victim, the animal, to cover a sinful Adam and Eve so they could have fellowship with God. Animal sacrifice became necessary for man to worship God. We can follow a trail of animal blood from the first family, to Noah, to Abraham, and throughout Israel’s history. The shedding of innocent blood was necessary as a condition of forgiveness for man, the sinner. Israel’s sacrificial system was a major pedagogical preparation for the Messiah who came to shed His blood so that sinners might obtain eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). Reader, do you know God’s forgiveness in Christ? The death of an animal is not a pleasant thing, but even more grievous was the piercing through and crushing of Jesus Christ so that we could be accepted by God (Isa. 53:5; Heb. 9:14). Now is the time for you, dear friend, if you have not already, to call out to God for His forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

The fact that animals have played a vital role in redemptive history does not mean that they can be treated with cruelty. Wisdom tells us that “a righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel” (Prov. 12:10). Henry Morris has aptly summarized the truth that is stated here, “When God placed animals under man’s dominion (Genesis 1:26-28), this was a stewardship, not a license for cruelty. God has a purpose for every creature, and even though man can use animals for food, clothing, etc., they should be respected as creatures of God. However, animals should not be regarded as human ancestors or as gods to worship (Numbers 11:21-34; Job 39).” Well said. Animals that are placed in our care should be treated properly. Feed them. Take good care of them. Enjoy them. We have every right to establish laws that punish people for being cruel to animals. At the same time, one has to wonder so many moderns can be incensed over pain inflicted on animals and have no regard for aborted babies.

The role of animals in man’s fall, redemption, and restoration will be completed in the millennial kingdom when Eden-like conditions will exist in the animal world. Isaiah casts an eye on that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isa. 11:6-8). If words mean anything, this is a picture of the harmony that creation will experience when the Messiah comes to establish His kingdom on earth. Lion petting and people friendly wolves and leopards excite the imagination. Will the bluebird light on our shoulder and the rabbit hop toward us for a scratch under the neck? We can only imagine. Best of all will be the presence of Jesus Christ. We will see Him whom so many have loved and served though having not seen Him. Come Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church