05/12/2008
24Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
This last weekend, I had the opportunity to see the Ben Stein movie “Expelled.” It is a documentary of how the scientific community is systematically ostracizing anyone who even entertains the concept of “Intelligent Design.” The movie is interesting as Mr. Stein interviews a number of scientists pro and con. One leading scientist in particular referred to all religions as myths and their practitioners as stupid and ignorant. Yet, when pressured into giving an answer, this same fellow could not account for how the first life began.
When I was growing up, there was the talk of the “missing link;” that is, the creature, whatever it was, that was the link between simians or apes and humans. Yet, it seems we have found an even greater and more mysterious missing link. Scientists can blend up all the chemicals necessary for life, but in no way can they create life. Nor can they explain how the first single-cell organism sprang into being.
This same fellow, who claimed that Intelligent Design was complete and utter nonsense, even suggested that another evolved race of aliens could have seeded life on earth. What he failed to realize was that he had just advocated a form of Intelligent Design!
Nevertheless, I would encourage you to see the movie.
It was fitting for me to have seen this movie at this time as it ties in so well into our daily devotionals. On the opening of the sixth day, God creates livestock and other creatures which are predominantly limited to movement along the ground. We can consider this group of creatures to include everything from reptiles and amphibians, to rodents, dogs, cattle and other land mammals. Since dinosaurs are not specifically mentioned, it is easy to claim they did not exist, however, let me point out. If you keep a goldfish in a bowl with plenty of food, it will continue to grow larger. Its ultimate size will be determined by its available food and environment. This is true of most cold-blooded creatures. They continue to grow in size, limited only by their food supply and environment.
Jumping ahead in the scriptures a little, we see that Adam and his descendants lived hundreds of years. If these cold-blooded animals also lived hundreds of years, with an ample food supply, there is no reason to expect them not to grow to great size.
Now let me point out another interesting fact:
29God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, 30for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. ëI have givenû every green plant for food.” And it was so.
These verses indicate that the plants were created as food for both man and animals—all animals and humans were directed to be vegetarian. Since this is the case, there are two interesting observations.
1) All animals were herbivores, so it was necessary to create plants before them so that the creatures that followed would immediately have sustenance.
2) Since all animals were herbivores, there was no need for humans to be afraid of any of them—including reptiles of huge size.
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An important note: although animals and humans were created as herbivores, this was changed after the flood: Genesis 9:3 (HCSB) 3Every living creature will be food for you; as ëI gaveû the green plants, I have given you everything. So, there is no Biblical justification for vegetarianism now. |
If animals and humans were created to be herbivores, then what is the purpose of animals? As we have come to know over the many millennia, we can benefit from most of the animals in some way. Sheep and goats provide hair that grows constantly. From this we get wool. Cows, goats, and even camels provide dairy products. Cattle, camels, horses, elephants and other beasts of burden assist us with tasks too great for our own strength. Dogs and chimps assist the blind and disabled. There are more that I either don’t have time to mention or am unaware of, but suffice it to say: animals were created to assist humans.
The first
creation was time
(read about it here)
The second creation was truth (not excluding visible light)(read
about it here)
The third creation was space (or three dimensions of geometry)(read
about it here)
The fourth creation was land and sea(read
about it here)
The fifth creation was vegetation(read
about it here)
The sixth creation was the Sun, Moon, and stars(read
about it here)
The seventh creation was fish and birds(read
about it here)
The eighth creation was land animals
God created all things in order, and with order. The sequence that creation occurred was planned and appropriate for the creations that followed.
All that remains is the capstone of creation.
Take time to consider the creation around you. Romans chapter 1 tells us that the incredible spectrum of creation is itself testimony to the fact that there is an Intelligent Designer. Those who observe nature and then say “there is no god” have turned their back on the very creator who made them.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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