Like Tami pointed out and you did, I’m not so sure that the animal is being put to death because of its sin –

We are viewed differently by God than He views the animals. They don’t have a moral compass and are not made in His image like we are. He may destroy the animal because it killed a human but the animal is not acting in a sinful way — I think we are the only ones that can act in a sinful way. It is us that has the knowledge of good & evil — something that we would not have had if Adam & Eve did not eat from that fruit.

I had bunnies — and they too will eat their young. I think it’s the younger bunnies that do that — usually their first litter. It’s really gross and disgusting but that’s the animal kingdom. They can do that and then in their next litter, they could be the best of bunny mommies. With us humans, if a woman is so warped that she does horrible things to her young, she does not change to be an explementary mother with her next child. For that to happen, she has to have a total change of heart that comes with the change of nature through Christ’s redemption.

Well, you sent me back to my bible (a good thing )

I just looked at a lot of different scriptures regarding critters. This is how I understand it. These animals are property and are worth something to the owners so to lose the animal is a punishment to the owner.

What I do know about animals is they have no moral compass like us human beings do. It is not an immoral act for animals to do certain things that is clearly immoral and wrong for us.

I’m understanding these scriptures to be a punishment to the owner who has a duty and responsibility to keep his animals (property) from hurting someone. In fact, if the owner knows of his animal’s aggression and does not do anything about it and the animal kills another human being, both the animal and the owner are to be put to death.

I’ll probably be back here or start a whole new post — you just opened a question for me that I would like to understand more clearly.

Thanks for pointing out that scripture for me

Yes, God cares about His creatures. That really comforts me — a LOT.

This is such a busy time of year to start this conversation of love for God’s creatures…… God truly loves each and every one of us, even though we are sinners, and yet, even we have to go through the process of suffering and dying.

I think of all creation that goes through death — plants, animals, and mankind….. Sin brought awful consequences….. We need to think about how God allowed animals to be eaten for food in Genesis….. The animal does need to be killed before being eaten and we know that Jesus also ate meat because He took part in the Passover.

Romans 8:19-22 says, “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

With that, we remember the flood that killed everything except the animals Noah had on the ark….. Those passages need to be thought of. Then in Exodus 21:28-32 an ox that is in the habit of goring people is to be destroyed and not eaten….. What is God saying there?

1 Timothy 4:3-5 says, “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”

Then, in talking about Christians who blatantly lived in sin, 2 Peter 2:12 says, “But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed.”

Right along with all of this, Jesus talks to us in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”

God deeply loves all of His creation….. But, even amongst animals and insects, they kill and eat one another…..

In living on a sheep and cattle ranch for years, I have witnessed good and not so good….. I’ve seen ewes try to kill off one of their offspring for various reasons — maybe she didn’t like the way the little one suckled — or maybe she gave birth to twins or triplets and didn’t think she could feed all of them….. I have seen chickens start picking on one in the flock — just because it was smaller or weaker — they would have picked it to death if I had not rescued it, nursed it back to health, and made sure it was big enough and strong enough to protect itself before letting it go.

I love you for taking care of all God’s critters that have needed your tender, loving care….. It brings out in me the same tendencies to nurse all the animals in my life….. I also love the beauty God has given us in all sorts of plants and enjoy caring for my garden….. But, in all this is a love and wisdom of God that is far beyond our ability to figure out.

All I know is that those who wantonly abuse or destroy God’s creation will face God’s judgment for their cruelty….. And yet, in the same breath, we are allowed to respectfully kill and eat things in the animal kingdom….. If they had the kind of souls you are thinking of, I don’t think that would be approved of by our Lord.

Now I won’t have time to get all my Christmas baking done!….. I’m sure you will search out more references to help every one out.

Margaret

While I agree with the perspective of your post, I don’t pretend to “understand” the whole issue – or the whats and hows of it. However, this verse gives an additional dimension to the issue that I hadn’t considered before — If God will demand an accounting (hold an animal accountable for killing a human) there’s definitely something more than “temporary” at work!

i was thinking about that verse, about the sparrow. I was also thinking does not the other bird realize what just happened to their fellow friend.

God cares though.