Day 6 Animals

I am not an animal guy

The Purpose of the Bible and how to use it

meditation

limits

God Creates Animals

Gen 1:23-35

Animal classification in the Bible is by Habitat

not structural complexity, body symmetry, segmentation

God values Animals

Ps 36:5-7 - His love is seen in His care of the animals

Unfailing love - if you feel unloved when you see ants and deer

Ps 145:16 - His promises have kept the mice fed

Jonah 4:11 - He cares about the cows.

Why? He created them.

Laws Exod 23

An ox treading corn was not muzzled

Rest your ox and donkey on the sabbath

Why This Matters/ Characteristic of God?

God is caring and Kind.

Mice, cows, anteaters, elephants

He doesn’t want them to be mistreated when working.

Complex and detailed

Animals function according to God’s purposes

The Animals bring praise to God

Ps 148:7-12 - Commentary on creation

Ps 150:6 - Praise

Why This Matters/ Characteristic of God?

Unique ways… Each animal is unique - Kangaroos, Giraffes, Lizards

Bring praise bt ffulfilling heir role in creation.

When we do what we were created to do - our heart sings.

The master piece

Music - ghost notes

Depth and complexity

Their praise doesn’t require human-like self-awareness or articulation, but happens through their doing what they were created to do.

We have choice.

Praise doesn’t always require high-level thinking and well articulated words

The mundane is a place to bring praise - KISS

Store, cooking, driving, and dishes

Realizing that everything is before God.

Hardwired to praise - KISS

Animals also function in creation as

Useful to Humans

Farming

Ox and donkeys

Pumas + great pyrenees

Transportation

OT donkeys

Comfort

Personalities

Emotions

Vice and Isabell

Do animals have a spirit and go to heaven?

They don’t have a spirit like ours (next week)

They are seen by and understood by God. He is watching over them

There are passages suggesting there are animals

In the current spiritual heaven

(Revelation 5:13 “And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.””

and the future New Earth.

(Isaiah 11:6–9 “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.”

I have a feeling heaven will be more complex and beautiful than Earth!

Stop where the Bible stops.

Let's just trust God, cared, cares, and will always care more than you are able

God wants animals to be respected (not worshiped)

They show God's character; they are not God.

Takeaways

Who cares, they are just animals? God does

God cares and values animals:

God’s compassion and kindness are seen in the animals

Animals give God praise when they do what they were created to do.

Animals are useful to humans.

Animals are not to be worshiped or abused.

Respected & Remind us of God

Everything is ready for Humans