Wonders of God's Creation

I am so thankful that God made animals, aren't you? Aside from liking the way that many of them taste (chicken, for example), I just enjoy observing animals. I love to see an eagle soar through the sky on a clear day. I enjoy watching monkeys hang from branches with one arm while making their funny "ooohhh-ooohhh aaahhh-aaahhh" sounds. I like to see lightning bugs glow on a dark summer night. And I love to hear the spine-tingling roar of the lion at the zoo.

Although animals are certainly not the main theme of Scripture (that honor belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ), the Bible does have a lot to say about them. For example, eight of the first nine chapters of the Bible mention animals. You can read about their creation in Genesis 1-2. Satan, the snake, as well as animal skins are mentioned in Genesis 3. Moses wrote about Abel's sheep in chapter four, while penning much about animals in the account of Noah and the Flood in Genesis 6-9. From locusts to lions to Leviathan, the Bible talks about a lot of different animals.

Consider the climax of the book of Job, when God speaks to Job out of a whirlwind. Instead of informing Job of the exact reasons for his serious suffering, God spoke to him about His Creation. Beginning in Job 38:39 and going through chapters 39, 40, and 41, God spoke to Job about several different animals, including the lion, the hawk, the behemoth, and Leviathan. Of all of the things God could have said to Job, He spent some 77 verses talking about a variety of animals. He chose to teach Job about His [God's] all-powerful, all-knowing, supreme nature by describing some of His magnificent animal creation.

The fact is, we can learn a lot about God, the Creator and Sustainer of life, by studying the many kinds of creatures He made on days five and six of Creation. The super shock absorber between the beak and skull of the woodpecker could not have just evolved by time and chance. The lightening bug's ability to mix the proper chemicals and light up its backend is not the result of mindless evolution. The amazing abilities of these (and all other) animals testify to an infinitely intelligent Creator.

Since the time of Job, Noah, and going as far back as Adam, man has learned some wonderful things about God by studying His amazing creation. In fact, 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul wrote the following words to Christians living in Rome: "Since the creation of the world His [God's] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood [by man] by the things that are made [example: animals], even His eternal power and Godhead" (Romans 1:20).

The prophet Isaiah once wrote about being allowed to see a vision of the throne of God. In the Lord's presence were angelic beings crying out one to another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3). What is the basis of this praise? What is one reason we should be driven to worship God? Isaiah revealed one of the pillars of God's praise in the very next line: "The whole earth is full of His [God's] glory" (6:3).

The beauty, splendor, and design of God's creation (including His animal creation) should drive us closer to the Creator. God's "fingerprints" (creations) should make us stand in awe of Him. They should drive us to our knees in worship to Him. And, they should compel us to tell others about Him. As the psalmist sang, we should "declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised" (96:3-4).

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