Animals: God's Care of
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The Bible provides numerous insights into God's care for animals, reflecting His sovereignty and compassion over all creation. From the very beginning, Scripture affirms that animals are part of God's good creation. In Genesis 1:24-25 , God commands the earth to bring forth living creatures, and He sees that it is good. This foundational passage establishes the intrinsic value of animals within the created order.

God's care for animals is further illustrated in His provision for their needs. In Psalm 104:10-11 , the psalmist declares, "He sends forth springs in the valleys; they flow between the mountains. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst." This passage highlights God's provision of water, a basic necessity for life, demonstrating His concern for the well-being of all creatures.

The book of Job also reflects on God's care for animals, emphasizing His wisdom and understanding in their creation and sustenance. Job 38:39-41 poses rhetorical questions from God, asking, "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket? Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?" These verses underscore God's active role in providing for the needs of animals, even those that are wild and untamed.

In the teachings of Jesus, God's care for animals is used as an illustration of His greater care for humanity. In Matthew 6:26 , Jesus says, "Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Here, the provision for birds serves as a reminder of God's attentive care for all His creation, assuring believers of their worth and His provision for their needs.

The Mosaic Law also reflects God's concern for animals, incorporating principles of kindness and rest. In Exodus 23:12 , the law commands, "For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your maidservant and the foreign resident may be refreshed." This commandment not only provides rest for humans but also extends Sabbath rest to animals, acknowledging their need for recuperation.

Proverbs 12:10 further emphasizes righteous treatment of animals, stating, "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty." This proverb highlights the moral responsibility of humans to care for animals, reflecting God's own care and compassion.

Throughout Scripture, God's care for animals is evident in His creation, provision, and laws. These biblical teachings reveal a God who values all life and calls His people to reflect His character in their treatment of animals.
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Genesis 9:9,10
And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
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Deuteronomy 25:4
You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn.
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Job 38:41
Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of meat.
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Psalm 36:6
Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O LORD, you preserve man and beast.
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Psalm 104:11,21
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
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Psalm 147:9
He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
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Jonah 4:11
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
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Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
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Matthew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
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Luke 12:6,24
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
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1 Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen?
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Library

Whether all Things are under Divine Providence
... of a lion, if there were no slaying of animals. ... Thus Augustine says: "God omnipotent
would not allow any evil ... chance and to evil are outside the care of divine ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether all things.htm

From the Creation to the Fall.
... for them garments of the skins of animals such as ... connection with the Tabernacle
later and where God dwelt in ... who has the tenderest solicitude and care for man ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter i from the creation.htm

A Whitsun Sermon
... he will grow more loving likewise; more merciful to the very dumb animals. ... of God's
Spirit; a witness of God's power, God's wisdom, God's care, God's love. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xix a whitsun sermon.htm

This ChapterTreats of the Beauty and Dignity of Our Souls and ...
... and at times, though rarely, commend themselves to God's care. ... is wrought the perfect
union with God, the union ... with a bear-garden where rare animals were kept ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter i this chapter treats.htm

Recapitulation of Former Exhortations. ...
... two great lights, the plants, the quadrupeds, the swimming and the flying animals,
and all ... things: for I say that such was the abundance of God's care, that we ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily vii recapitulation of former.htm

Nevertheless one who Regards Only the Dissolution of the Body is ...
... this, perhaps, be the more induced to admire the graciousness of God's care for
the ... For to what sort of slain and flayed animals did this clothing devised for ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter viii nevertheless one who.htm

The Work of God's Spirit
... He does not care to use us like tools and puppets. ... really believe that you have sinned;
for animals cannot sin ... We must really believe that God made us at bottom ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon iv the work of.htm

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
... Such meekness irrational animals have, lions and snakes, Jews, Turks ... do that he may
do good works, please God and be ... of his enemy, wish him well, care for him ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

Preface.
... as we hold"from the works not only of men but of animals, has made ... every organic
being,""if that, I say, were proven to be true: ought God's care and God's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/preface.htm

Human Nature (Septuagesima Sunday. )
... that he could stand up and say, I am good; I can take care of myself ... All animals
God made to live and multiply, each after their kind: and man likewise: but the ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxiii human nature septuagesima.htm

Resources
Do animals sin? | GotQuestions.org

Do pets / animals go to Heaven? Do pets / animals have souls / spirits? | GotQuestions.org

How does the fact that there are gay/homosexual animals impact the idea that homosexuality is a sin? | GotQuestions.org

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