“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?… Job 12:7-10
I stand in awe of reading the above words. I wonder about my limited thinking for not seeking answers from God’s Kingdom through understanding the animal kingdom. Each day as I interact with dogs of senior age and puppies alike I find so often they reflect back to me the reality of my humanity. We learn dogs are guileless, spontaneous and unlike people they do not deceive. Whoa, like a drink of fresh water in a parched land, or better!
Do do you have a true story to share from your life showing the truth found in the book of Job as quoted here?
thedailylily.com 
In my younger years, horses were a major part of my life. I was apparently put on a horse before I could even remember. Since my dad trained racehorses for a living and my parents owned a saddlery and riding apparel shop, life seemed to evolve around something to do with a horse. Horses put food on our table, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and money to help with other expenses. I really don’t think I ever deeply considered and was grateful for the invaluable gift that God gave to my family through these animals. That is until I read this blog by Sara and the scripture.
From an early age, I, ‘trained’ horses for show or hunt or eventing for the ultimate purpose of resale. In reality, they provided more training for me, than I did for them. They taught me the value and importance of daily chores (mucking their stalls out, grooming, feeding and cleaning their tack). Horses showed me that only consistent, daily, self-discipline would win a blue ribbon. Through working with them, they exposed many of my failures and sins such anger, jealousy, pride, meanness, etc. They provided solace, relief and comfort from the strains of being a part of a dysfunctional family. And they carried me down dirt roads and across hills with beautiful views, and through woods, streams and fields where I learned to appreciate some about the beauty and splendor of God’s creation. It was on the back of a horse, alone except for the faithful family dog as companion, that I would sing and sing…something I still love to do today. There are so many things that horses did for me.
Thank you, Lord, for Your hand, and for the many years of life lessons with these beautiful ‘beasts’.
I have a special friend that adopts both kittens and doggies. They are all strangers to her and one another upon entering her home. Yet, I observe through communication with her and photos/videos how they become the best of friends in a very short time with her skill of talking to them along with how she interacts with them. They teach her how to communicate with others and she in turn freely shares their stories. It seems to me she really understands them and their needs.
Recently, she has become a caretaker to elderly parents. The interacting she has learned while being part of her adopted animal world has helped her greatly to understand how to adjust to her parents now being dependent on her. Surely, a diffuclt reversed role but one that she manages very well by following the love path she has been a part of in her adopted animal family. I love her living love story of kittie and doggie therapy!
She has been such a help to me as my family is now faced with two puppies as well as two seniors in the fur family!
“the animal kingdom”…… “unlike people they do not deceive. Whoa, like a drink of fresh water in a parched land, or better!”
Sara,
I have been thinking about this blog off and on for a couple of days now, and I thought of the Bible story in Genesis chapter 6. Particularly verses 11-13 and 17-21: Read with me these verses. (NLT) (11-13)”Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, ‘I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth’!” (17-21)”Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat–you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal–a male and a female–into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”
Sara said, “Each day as I interact with dogs of senior age and puppies alike I find so often they reflect back to me the reality of my humanity.”
Debi said, “And they carried me down dirt roads and across hills with beautiful views, and through woods, streams and fields where I learned to appreciate some about the beauty and splendor of God’s creation. It was on the back of a horse, alone except for the faithful family dog as companion, that I would sing and sing…something I still love to do today. There are so many things that horses did for me.
Thank you, Lord, for Your hand, and for the many years of life lessons with these beautiful ‘beasts’.”
All I can say is…. no wonder God included the animals on the ark.
Great thoughts you are having Tammy! A marvelous wonder when we pause and think on God’s creation. I always loved hearing the words George Bev Shea would sing as a praise;,The wonder of it all! And, while animals include the Lion and God protected then on the Ark wonder why The Lion is the symbol of the Jewish tribe of Judah? And, The Lion of Judah is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation, as a term representing Jesus?
Just another thought wonder why Jesus became a slain lamb for us? And, thinking on the horses Jesus has chosen horses to ride bringing many messages in Revelation! Our scripture wisely advises us to ask the beast and let them teach us. What a wonder!
Oh, and what about the fish telling us a few things! Hum, we may know of one that talked loud and clean…if you don’t believe me ask Jonah!
It was a couple of years before I came to know the wonder of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I was going through a very difficult and trying time in my life. Divorce is rarely easy even when one is not saved. My family was grieving, also. And at that time there was no way that I could have seen beyond my haughty nose that anything could be turned to the good about this by a God I was not serving at that time.
I hesitate to pen this part..it is painful to write.. because it conjures up such feelings of sorrow, sadness, regret and shame. Not just about the divorce as about my little dog Mai Tai. Even now the water-less tears want to flow.
He was an absolutely gorgeous, red Pekingese, perfect in all his markings and colors. I had told Sara, my remembrance of him was that he came from China….as that is what I remember being told. If that is true I cannot swear to it now as I think it over for that was quite a few years ago. He came to us as a tiny puppy when we were in Ethiopia. He had been the delight of our hearts, so darling, cute, no bigger than a little baby bunny.
But when rough times came, I was left to live alone with Mai Tai and since I had three jobs, he was sorely neglected. He did NOT deserve that kind of treatment as he was an obedient little guy despite my meanness towards him. He barely got fed, and hardly ever got walked. Yet, his loyalty to me never waned. I would teach all day and then I would come home late at night from my piano ”gig” and quickly throw something to eat his way….and yet he was glad to see this mean and cruel mistress.
David Teems book, subtitled [What I Really Know About the Devoted Life I learned From My Dogs] truly touched my heart in more ways than one. I realized years later the devotion that little doggie gave me even though I did not deserve it
When I became a Christian I know that God forgave me for all my sins when I asked Him into my life. And I have asked little Mai Tai to forgive me and hopefully he will be greeting me in Heaven, one day, for I do believe that Heaven is filled with God’s guileless creatures.
MG, a story many of us could probably relate to in some way, unfortunately. A thought that comes to my mind is how important it is for older wisdom women to teach younger women. The beauty is you knew wrong, repented , got help for Mai Tai, and now sharing to help others to know not the way to treat one of God’s little creatures.
Thanks for sharing!
That passage of Scripture….”Even while I was still a sinner, Jesus died on the cross for me” reminds me of that sad situation long ago. Out of His great compassion for one of His tiny, guileless creatures, He sent someone..a soon to be ‘former’ mother-in-law who offered to take Mai Tai. He lived out the rest of his days in doggie luxury and affection. Thank You, Lord, for Your unspeakable mercy.
Watching close up, the wonder of God’s creatures, more recently I marvel at the wisdom and amazing in-born instinct these animals have. The Bible talks about that in the Book of Proverbs. Prov. 30:26 reads, “The conies [Rock badgers] are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” God has programmed into them the instinct to know how to build a ”house” away from their natural predators. They just know how to do it! They don’t have to go to school, or read a Badger’s Manual or buy a computer program to teach them how to and where to build their homes. This is true of the robin and the cardinal and the mighty eagle.
In another verse, the Scriptures suggest…” Go to the ant, you sluggard.” Learn from the ants how to be industrious, preparing your ”campsite” for the different seasons. The ants are full of wisdom from which we can learn by observation.
Sara tells of her little male Westie and how he instinctively knows how to approach and handle the little baby puppies that have come to to be a large part of his day. I marvel at the wisdom and the love that our God has deposited in the creatures of the earth.
I have always loved the song “Bless the Beasts and the Children” that I have taught to my school choruses and little singing groups. One line of the song sings, ‘for in this world they have no voice, they have no choice.’ But after I grew to know the Lord Jesus and observe creation from a new point of view, I believe the beasts do have a VOICE. As we watch our pets [and in my case my friends’ pets] I see the creative ‘voice’ the Lord has given to ALL His creatures.
Today, as I waited at the car wash I noted a mix black and brindle Lab. She was quite large and clung to her master’s knees as he chatted with some people who were trying to befriend the dog. She would duck her head and half close her eyes and her tail would droop as she hid her face against his knee. Her expression was that of shyness but more than that….fear! I asked him, ‘ Is she a shelter dog?’ ”Yes”, he replied. ”She’s a rescue dog”. The look on that dog’s face and her movements and expressive, sad eyes told the story to all who observed her. She was beautiful, but she had been wounded. My heart went out to that dog…I still can see her cowering and clinging to her master.
Thank God for people who have the heart to rescue these creatures from the horror of abuse. Yes, Oh Lord…bless the beasts.
Listening to a preacher teach on “Are There Animals in Heaven?” he shared this scripture which I received, rejoicing in the Lord.
Proverbs 12:10….The righteous man tends to and regards the life of his/her beasts! Amen!
A great thought to ponder from Proverbs 12:10 as well as the B part…”The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
Growing up my mother had a bird feeder, fed the birds regularly and could identify many that came to feed. Sometimes I would help put out bird seed but never had a feeder of my own until this Christmas when I was given one and bird feed as a gift from one of my sons. It has been a joy to pause and see the many varieties that come to feed. As I fill it weekly, I am appreciative of these visits from some of God’s winged creatures and am reminded of some lines of one of my favorite hymns, “All Things Bright and beautiful”:
“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flow’r that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings..”