Genesis 9:8-11 (NIV) – 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and 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. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”
After the flood, God made a covenant or agreement with who? Read the text again? God made a covenant with (1) Noah (2) Noah’s sons (3) Noah’s descendants, which means everyone who will live after Noah, that is you and me. Up to that point all human beings are covered.
The Bible tells us that God continued listing those with whom He made a covenant. After listing human beings, He lists non-human beings. (4) Every living creature that was in the Ark. Those that were not in the Ark died and are extinct. God makes a covenant with animals, non-humans!
Genesis 9:10 (NIV) and 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.
To remove all doubt, the non-humans are listed. The list given is of those with whom God has made a covenant. A covenant with who? Birds, livestock, and ALL the wild animals that came out of the Ark. To further clarify the list, God repeats the non-humans involved in the covenant, “EVERY LIVING CREATURE ON EARTH.”
As God makes the covenant, He keeps repeating that this is between Him and every creature, human and non-humans. Look at the following repetition. Why does God make this emphasis? Isn’t God telling us that He communicates and relates with non-humans, domestic and wild animals? Isn’t this following passage tell us that He is the God of everything?
Genesis 9:12-17 (NIV) – 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you AND EVERY LIVING CREATURE with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me AND THE EARTH. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you AND ALL LIVING CREATURES OF EVERY KIND. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy ALL LIFE. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant BETWEEN GOD AND ALL LIVING CREATURES OF EVERY KIND on the earth.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and ALL LIFE ON THE EARTH.”
God created everything. God makes a covenant with everything. A covenant has to be understood by both parties. Therefore God relates and communicates with everything He created, both humans and non humans.
1 Kings 17:2-4 (NIV) – 2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
God tells Elijah where he will get food during the famine. God tells Elijah that water will come from a brook in Kerith Ravine. Then God tells Elijah that He has ordered ravens to supply him with food. God has talked and communicated with birds known as Ravens!
Jonah 1:17 (NIV) – Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:10 (NIV) – And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
In the story of Jonah we encounter a God who speaks to fish and it obeys. God relates and communicates with fish, other non-human creatures, and human beings. God relates with everything He created.
Jonah 4:11 (NIV) – And 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 wants God to destroy the city of Nineveh. God tells Jonah that He can’t destroy the city because He is concerned about the confused people in the city, AND THE MANY ANIMALS! God cares and is concerned about animals.
Matthew 10:29 (NIV) – Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Sparrows are small cheap birds. Yet God cares about them. They may be cheap, but not even one can die without God’s approval. God has a relationship with all creatures. Even the ultimate fate of any animal is in God’s hands.
Romans 8:19-22 (NIV) – 19 For THE CREATION waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For THE CREATION was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that THE CREATION itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that THE WHOLE CREATION has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Apostle Paul writes to the Roman church. In this cited passage he tells them that salvation from this sinful world is a desire for humans and nonhumans. The whole creation desires salvation of human beings so that they too can be set free.
For the whole creation to eagerly wait for salvation of human beings, it means someone communicated with birds, livestock, wild animals, etc. Who else can communicate with the whole nature if not God?
Revelation 19:17-18 (NIV) – 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”
At the end of time, God will send for birds to come eat corpses of sinners. An angel speaks to the birds and gives them orders, and they listen! God relates and communicates with humans and non-humans!
God cares for non-humans, He sees for you and me. God communicates with non-humans and He communicates with us. May we experience the goodness of God today and forever, Amen!
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