“The Law Showed that Jehovah Cares for Animals” (10 min.)
Every day that passes we are in awe of Jehovah's creation and we see how much love He has in giving us things that are not essential for life. However, if to enjoy our lives we can talk about a sunset of food. And what about the animals? everything has its purpose and everything has its law to fulfill.
Therefore, in this section of Treasures of the Bible we will see the title: "The law showed that Jehovah cares for animals" It is sad, but the human being takes for granted that the things that are around him are his property. And it is not like that.
That is why the care of animals, the treatment given to them, has been so distorted. We can mention situations where abuse is demonstrated towards them, for example, things like dogfighting have become like sports or cockfighting, making them fight until they die. Or bullfights. Where many enjoy watching an animal suffer.
What will Jehovah think of that? What did Jehovah think before? And what continues to prove it? and what he expects, of course, from us. Let's review three points, three biblical texts that help us see how Jehovah demonstrated that he cared for his creation. In this case of animals. Let's examine the law that he said in Deuteronomy chapter 22 and verse 4.
Deuteronomy 22: 4
"If you see your brother's donkey or bull fall on the road, don't pretend you haven't seen it. You should definitely help him lift it.
It is very common in many places that animals are still used to transport loads. And here the text is very clear. If someone saw the animal, in this case the donkey or the bull, which is not their property but someone else's and this animal fell with its load on it, they should help it, even if it is not their property. says Jehovah.
Back then and until now, even many of these animals carry body weight on them. So it was almost impossible for him to get up with that weight. Jehovah was there, clearly demonstrating that these animals had to be treated well.
Today human beings also need that, we do not want to overload the weight of some animal that we have for use if we live in the countryside, Jehovah continues to maintain his position on this. What to think of even such tiny things as birds? What did Jehovah think? Let's see what is indicated in Deuteronomy, chapter 22, verses 6 and 7.
Deuteronomy 22: 6,7
"If on a road you find a nest with chicks or eggs, whether it is in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is lying on the chicks or the eggs, do not take the mother and the chicks. 7 you can stay with the chicks, but be sure to let go of the mother. Do it this way so that it goes well for you and you live long.
Again, in this law, Jehovah is showing that he cares for animals. The situation presented here is that Jehovah was not forbidding humans to benefit from these animals, perhaps for food, but he was also indicating here that they should show consideration, why? what we see in these verses indicates that the mother, in this case the bird, is on her chicks or on her eggs.
Why don't the birds run away? It is usually a way to protect their nest or their young. That is the protective instinct of their offspring. Jehovah allowed the Israelite to keep the eggs, but was forcing him to release the mother. Why? Because she could have more offspring and we are not talking about here, it was a decision to do it or not.
As we see at the end of verse 7, Jehovah told him "Do it like this so that it will go well with you and you will live a long time." It was a clear warning from Jehovah. Today we too want to continue to show that for even the smallest things within Jehovah's creation, we want to show consideration.
We can teach children in our homes to take care of animals and not mistreat them, sometimes even parents or relatives can delight when they see a child mistreat a poor animal. I have already seen that these animals when they are with the children, as they are willing to put up with whatever. And of course, in most cases they can handle it. In some others they react by defending themselves.
We need that from children, Youth and adults we really know how to demonstrate that we care for animals, something that Jehovah created and that also deserves our consideration. Another way, how Jehovah indicated that the Israelites should consider animals, is now found in Deuteronomy chapter 22 and verse 10.
Deuteronomy 22:10
"Don't put a bull and a donkey to plow together"
It is possible that we do not have these types of animals or fields to plow, but it is almost common for all of us to have a domestic animal. What does Jehovah expect us to do? In Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 10.
Proverbs 12:10
The righteous take care of their domestic animals, but in the case of the wicked, even their mercy is cruel.
If we have a small animal in our care, we must give it the proper treatment, the treatment that Jehovah demands of us as human beings. If we take care of one of these animals, because we also need to demonstrate the same posture of Jehovah we are made in the image of Jehovah.
Therefore we want to show the same appreciation for God's creation. Let us teach our family members, even the smallest ones, to know how to properly care for, protect and treat the animals in our care.
That makes us think that if at some point they give us an animal to raise and we see that we do not have the appropriate conditions to do so, or perhaps if it is an animal that could cause harm to our loved ones, it is better to refrain from accepting it or having it.
Better, too, that we inculcate our relatives to treat this creation of Jehovah appropriately. If he thinks that way, if he always thought to the point of giving specific laws to human beings, it shows that Jehovah really wants to take care of his creation and he wants us to take care of them too.
Let's do our best to think like Jehovah. Let us show that we truly care for our animals in charge and that this also reflects our deep respect and love for Jehovah and his creation.
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