In this section I provide scriptures and with some a small explanation. I will state my opinion - and that is what it will be - my opinion based on how I read and what the Holy Spirit has led me to understand. I challenge you to do the same. Read the words and ask for wisdom.

James 1:4 | But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him..

Every relationship in our lives provides insight into our character. Be that relationship with a person or animal or even the care of an inanimate object. Our character should reflect the qualities of love and mercy that we have received from the One who redeemed us. A very impacting quality of a person’s character is also gratitude. When we are grateful for not only things but circumstances we grow in kindness and compassion towards others. That kindness and compassion affects not only people but also animals. God’s compassion for every living being is shown in the covenant He made after the flood. He made that everlasting covenant with all living creatures - humans as well as animals and included a sign to remind us of His kindness and compassion. We, as His children are called to reflect that love, mercy and compassion.

Genesis 9:9-10, 16 | “Now behold, I Myself am establishing My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, every animal of the earth. …When the rainbow is in the cloud, then I will look at it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

After the Flood He made a covenant promise and set a sign (rainbow) in the heavens for both mankind and the animals. When a rainbow appears God says that He will see it and remember the covenant between Him and us and that same covenant between Him and the animals.  

Psalm 36:6 | Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep. Lord, You protect mankind and animals.

Psalm 50:10 | For every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine.

Psalm 150:6 | Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord.

Romans 8:19-21 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

ALL of creation - Everything - planet, people and animals were subjected to the fallen state after the fall of the first humans in the garden. Everything groans and waits eagerly for the day of our redemption.All will be redeemed back to the way we were originally created

Have you ever stopped to consider the order of the Creation Story? God was creating the idea environment for us to live in. He created animals before He created man. Do you consider that significant? Is it more than their service to us that makes them important? How we treat animals is an insight into our hearts. Do we take the time to care? Is compassion and wisdom evident in the way we treat God’s creatures? One of the first signs of a human in trouble is found in that person’s behavior toward and treatment of animals. A lack of concern and compassion and especially a cruelty toward animals is a common denominator in a cold blooded killer’s life. Please consider that a lack of compassion is also a troubling indicator of the end times. Here is a little bit of tribulation speculation -

Ezekiel 5:17 | So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.

Wild beast that attack and kill people are part of the judgements God brings upon the earth.

Why? Would it have anything to do with the cruelty and how animals in general have been treated? Would it be that the behavior of abandoning an animal to fend for itself is actually breaking covenant? Would it be that neglect and intentional cruelty is a something that will cause God to bring judgement upon this earth? 

Remember when God spoke His law from Mt. Sinai, He spoke to a people who didn’t have the foggiest idea about how to live in freedom. God gave them instruction. When we look at those instructions we can see that God made provision in His instructions, also known as His law, for the creatures that He has made. Our integrity is revealed by how we respond to those things we are responsible for.

Exodus 23:4-5 | “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

Deu.22:1“You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and avoid them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman.

It doesn’t matter if it is your enemy’s animal - help the animal! Don’t let a negative attitude from another person affect your level of compassion toward their animal in need.

God’s creation of the Sabbath day is not only for us as people but also for the animals we have.

Exodus 23:12 | “For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as the stranger residing with you, may refresh themselves.

Deu. 25:4 “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.:

Perspective on the responsibility of ownership.

Exodus 21:28-29 | “Now if an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall certainly be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.

     Proverbs 12:10 | A righteous person has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

Willful intentional harm separates us from Him! God was so upset with their treatment of others that Simeon and Levi lost their tribal identity.

Genesis 49:65 | “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence. May my soul not enter into their council; May my glory not be united with their assembly; For in their anger they killed men, and in their self-will they lamed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will scatter them in Jacob, and disperse them among Israel.

The Least Commandment

Deu. 22:6-7 | “If you happen to come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs in it, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may go well for you and that you may prolong your days.

Yeshua referred to this as the least commandment but it provides a incredible amount of insight into the compassion and mercy God has for all of His creation! This “least” of the commandments has a reward that is attached to it. “In order that it may go well for you and that you may prolong your days’. That reward is also attached to the fifth commandment - the one about honoring our father and mother. I find it humbling to realize that my behavior toward a mother bird can be associated with my behavior toward my parents(Ex.21:20). My behavior toward another living creature is not only a reflection of my relationship with my physical parents but also my relationship with God. Both of God’s commands that have the same reward speaks of a regard for all life, even a life that could be “least”. (For more discussion see the link at the bottom of the page)

Let us look at another story and a perspective we might not have previously considered.

Mark 1:13 | And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Part of Yeshua’s testing included the animals that gathered around Him. Did those animals bear witness to the King of Glory in the midst of His testing? Were they gathered at His feet because they somehow knew that He is our Redeemer? Did they bear witness to the triumph of Yeshua over the temptations of the enemy? Do the animals likewise bear witness to our behavior?

Following is a list of scriptures about animals. Please read and think how these scriptures should guide our behavior towards the creatures that our Heavenly Father has given us.