Image: pexels.com – Mikhail Nilov
Whoever Loves Animals Can Understand God Better
By Kai Mester
Reading Time: 12 Minutes
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14) – every deed, even what we do to animals, as shown in the well-known story of Balaam and his donkey.
Balaam and the Donkey
It was almost like a small investigative judgment when the angel of the Lord confronted the prophet after he had beaten his donkey multiple times and even wanted to kill her with a sword. “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times?” the angel asked, pointing out that Balaam almost lost his life because of it (Numbers 22:32–33). A parable? In a way, yes. For is humanity not almost burying itself through its cruelty toward animals? The ecological and health consequences of meat consumption are indeed alarming.
God’s Mercy on Animals
The Bible is clear about how to treat animals: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10, NIV/NLT). The righteous take their example from God Himself, the greatest of the righteous: “O Lord, God of Israel, You are righteous.” (Ezra 9:15). As Creator, all animals truly belong to Him: “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10). Jesus said of His Father: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” (Matthew 10:29). And the psalmist confirms: “You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.” (Psalm 36:6).
An Ark of Salvation for Humans and Animals
Two examples of God saving both humans and animals are the Flood and Nineveh. Animals are explicitly mentioned: “Bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.” (Genesis 6:19). Only by bringing seven pairs of clean animals could humans survive after the Flood. As the first recorded operator of a traveling zoo, Noah followed God’s command “to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.” (Genesis 7:3). The boarding and disembarking of the animals are described in Genesis 7:8–9, 14–16 and Genesis 8:1, 17, 19.
God made a covenant not only with humans but “with every living creature that was with you – the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you – every living creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:10). The rainbow serves as a sign of this covenant. The chapter repeats the inclusion of animals three more times (verses 15, 16, 17), emphasizing the shared destiny of humans, animals, and the environment, and God’s desire to save all. Indeed, most animals perished alongside humans during the Flood.
Shared Destiny in Nineveh
In Eden, humans and animals lived closely together. But sin dragged animals down with it: through sacrifices, slaughter, and even sexual abuse. God illustrated this when He Himself killed the first animal to make garments of skin for humans. In Sodom, Lot’s livestock and many other animals were destroyed by fire. But in Nineveh, they were spared—because of repentance, expressed through fasting. Isn’t vegetarianism also a form of fasting—a response to the suffering we cause animals? It’s worth considering.
When Nineveh repented, the king decreed that even animals should fast and wear sackcloth. So God said in the final verse of Jonah: “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left – and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11)
Waiting for the New Earth
Not only humans suffer pain, disease, and death. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves … groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for … the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22–23)
The Bible describes the New Jerusalem as a great ark that will protect the “elect” from the fiery destruction that will cleanse the earth (Revelation 20:9). Like in the days of Noah, all who seek shelter there will be saved. What if we were surprised to find ourselves brought to the New Jerusalem with many resurrected animals? I wouldn’t be surprised—but I’m not making a prophecy. What is certain is that the Bible mentions animals as inhabitants of the redeemed earth: lion, ox, horse, mule, and camel (Isaiah 65:25; 66:20).
Jesus and the Animals
Jesus, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1), was laid in a manger after His birth. He later taught compassion toward animals on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:11). For His triumphal entry, He had a donkey and her colt brought to witness the event (Matthew 21:7). And during the Last Supper, He instituted a ritual that made animal sacrifices obsolete—because He became the true Lamb sacrificed on Golgotha.
Animal Rights in the Torah
Even at Mount Sinai, God gave laws to protect animals:
- “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.” (Exodus 23:4)
- “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; be sure to help them with it.” (Exodus 23:5)
- “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest.” (Exodus 23:12)
- “Do not castrate any animal in your land.” (Leviticus 22:24)
- “When a calf, lamb, or goat is born, it shall remain with its mother for seven days.” (Leviticus 22:27, NLT)
- “If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet.” (Deuteronomy 22:4)
- “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” (Deuteronomy 25:4)
Animal Sacrifices in the Old Testament
What, then, about the many animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?
These complex laws were also meant to limit meat consumption. Without them, the Israelites would likely have eaten far more meat. But even so, the sacrificial system grew out of control. Under Solomon, it peaked: “They sacrificed so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.” (1 Kings 8:4)
Later, God rejected this excess:
- “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings.” (Isaiah 1:11)
- “Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” (Jeremiah 6:20)
- “They offer sacrifices given to me and eat the meat, but the Lord is not pleased.” (Hosea 8:13)
- “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
The sacrifices were meant to point to the Redeemer and to curb sin and bloodshed. But dark powers perverted the practice for their own ends. That’s why Scripture says: “The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.” (Proverbs 15:8)
Rediscovering Mercy
The rare offering helped Adam, Noah, and Abraham seek God and hate sin. The daily sacrifice of two animals for the whole nation of Israel aimed at the same goal—while drastically limiting the slaughter of animals for food. Jesus’ one-time sacrifice on Golgotha enabled the end of all animal sacrifices. Sadly, the killing didn’t stop. A sign that the real issue was not the sacrifices, but the human appetite.
God desires prayer. He seeks relationship—with humans filled with His mercy, including toward animals. Especially today, when people can thrive without consuming meat.
Those who know how much innocent animals suffer today understand God’s pain more deeply—and are more driven to ease suffering in all forms. This gives us courage not to look away, but to empathize and promote compassion in our world, starting in our own lives.
Source: hoffnung-weltweit.info
