Through the Bible With Birds and BeastsSampel

In The Company Of Creatures Great And Small

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I meet many people who are fond of anything with fur or feathers. I admit I am among them. If the number of animals mentioned in the Bible is any indication, it seems God Himself is also fond of the creatures He created. They often appear throughout Scripture, many of them playing interesting parts in biblical history.

Keep an eye out for animal appearances in God’s Word. You’ll find birds and beasts literally from beginning to end. They all make their first appearance at Creation in the book of Genesis, of course, and by the book of Revelation, they are still in view. We find our King of kings there and all the saints with Him, riding on white horses!

If you think about it, Jesus was often in the company of animals while He walked the earth. I think He found all creatures great and small captivating, too. From the first moment of His arrival, He was with the animals—or at least near them. The Son of God was born in a stable, of all places, perhaps with more than one curious creature looking on.

When Jesus spent forty days in the desert, Scripture notes that He was with the wild animals. They get a special mention for being around Jesus at that trying time. They might not have been sitting in His lap—or they might have been. We don’t know. Yet I’m guessing their nearness provided Him with some comfort and companionship.

Whenever animals were near Jesus, I think the feeling of companionship must have gone both ways. On Palm Sunday, Jesus climbs on the back of a colt never before ridden, and He rides it through a boisterous crowd of people all shouting “Hosanna in the highest!” It is unlikely that any of us could have stayed on the colt without the scene becoming a rodeo. To stay so calm and obliging, the colt must have known something about the One who was on his back and must have trusted Him completely.

Anywhere the Bible mentions birds and beasts, I get the sense God cares for and greatly enjoys the animals He created. As believers, we can have God’s heart for humankind and His heart for His other creatures. I believe He gave us big enough hearts to have room for both.