Animals In The Bible

On the 5th day of creation God filled the sky with birds and the ocean with all kinds of creatures. On the sixth day, he added all the land animals including man. (Genesis 1:20-31) And God saw that everything He created was good and blessed them.

The first man was named Adam and he was spiritually connected to God and His wisdom. Adam was given dominion over the earth and the important task of naming all the animals that God had created for him. (Genesis 2:18-20)

Those first years in the Garden of Eden with Adam and later Eve must have been truly magnificent. They were living in complete harmony with nature and with God. But unfortunately, it didn't last very long.

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As long as Adam and Eve obeyed God there was peace on the earth. But the ancient enemy of God, satan, challenged God's Word and convinced Eve that God had lied to her. Both Adam and Eve sinned and were instantly cut off from God. Even worse, the earth was cursed because Adam, who had been given dominion, now had a very different master. All of creation would now suffer because the Blessing was removed from man. But God already had a plan to reconnect man to Himself. (Genesis 3)

Unfortunately, snakes would become associated with evil and would come to represent sin and death in several Bible stories.

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The human population grew rapidly, but unfortunately grew even further away from God. Evil and depravity were widespread and it grieved God that his creation had become so corrupt. There was one man, Noah, that remained righteous. And God warned him about the coming flood and told him to build a boat to carry not only his family, but pairs of every animal that lived on the earth. Noah worked on the project until it was complete. And just before the floodwaters came, God made sure that he, his family and all the animals were safely aboard.

For 40 days, the rains came down and torrents of water were released from the earth and covered everything. But Noah was safe inside. After several months, the rain stopped and the water began to disappear. Noah sent out a raven, and then a dove which came back to the boat because there was no place else to land. Noah waited 7 more days and released a dove. This time it returned with an olive leaf in its beak. A week later he released the dove again and it did not return. (Genesis 8:1-12)

Noah waited until God said it was time and then left the ark along with his family and all the animals to repopulate the earth. God promised that there would never be a global flood again. And placed a rainbow in the sky to remind us and all the animals of His promise.

Birds played an important role in Noah's story. And they would continue to contribute to God's plan for the earth.

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God sought a man that would be willing to form a partnership. This covenant would allow God to start the process of the ultimate redemption of mankind. God chose Abram (later Abraham) and led him away from his idol-worshipping relatives to a promised land. Abraham was obedient and trusted God. This obedience was credited to him as righteousness. And as a covenant partner with God, the Blessing would transform everything he did. He was blessed with large herds of sheep, cattle, camels and all sorts of wealth. He feared no enemy and defeated an entire army with only his hired servants. Everything he did prospered, but he did not have an heir.

God said he would have a son, and as promised, Isaac was born. As the boy grew, God commanded Abraham to take him to a mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham did not hesitate. He did everything God commanded, knowing that even if Isaac were to die, God could raise him back. As covenant partners, God had to prove that Abraham could deliver his side of the agreement. Abraham's obedience would allow God to send His son as one final sacrifice. Abraham said one of the most prophetic statements in the Bible while leading Isaac up the mountain. Isaac had asked where the lamb was and Abraham replied that, "God would provide Himself a lamb." God did in fact supply a ram in place of Isaac that day. And later would give Himself, Jesus, the lamb of God, for all mankind. (Genesis 22:1-19)

As the history of God's chosen people begins, we see the importance of livestock in their lives. Sheep, cattle, camels and donkeys would all play major parts in the unfolding story of the Jewish people. While many of the surrounding people worshipped idols in the shapes of animals, God's people saw animals as a gift from the Creator of the universe.

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Abraham was blessed in every way possible with great wealth and possessions. His son Isaac was now a man and needed a wife. He tasked his most loyal servant to journey to the home of his relatives and find a wife for Isaac. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry anyone associated with the pagan religions and practices around his home. The servant at first was hesitant to take on such a journey, but Abraham assured him that God, "would send his angel before you."

The servant loaded camels with gifts and after many days reached his destination. He prayed that the woman God had prepared for Isaac would not only provide water for the servant, but would also water all his camels. This was no easy task. Camels can consume as much as 25 gallons in ten minutes. As he was praying by the well, a young woman named Rebekah arrived. The servant asked her for a drink of water and she gave it to him and then offered to water his camels as well. And to make it even better, she was related to Abraham's brother. God had brought Abraham's servant to the exact spot and to the ideal person to be Isaac's wife. God is so wonderful to those who trust Him. (Genesis 24)

Camels would continue to play a big role in the Bible narrative. As the primary means for hauling merchandise and crossing the sometimes barren lands of the ancient world, they were very critical to the unfolding story of the Jewish people.

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Lobsters were created on what day of creation? (Genesis 1:20-23)

After God created all the animals, who named them? (Genesis 2:18-20)

What was the first type of bird released by Noah after the flood began to disappear? (Genesis 8:1-8)

Where did Abraham find the ram that was sacrificed in place of Isaac? (Genesis 22:6-14)

How would Abraham's servant know that he had found the woman God had appointed as Isaac's wife? (Genesis 24:9-22)