Why Animals Suffer

29 MAY

I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. Zephaniah 1:2-3

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Genesis 7

Why does God pronounce vengeance on the beasts of the field, the birds of the heaven, and the fish of the sea? For no matter how much the Jews have provoked God by their sins, innocent animals ought to be spared. If a son is not to be punished for the fault of his father (Ezek. 18:4), but only the soul that has sinned must die, why does God turn His wrath against fish and birds and animals? This seems to be a hasty and unreasonable infliction.

To answer that, let us first bear in mind that it is preposterous for us to estimate God's doings according to our judgment. Proud and perverse people do that today, for they are disposed to judge God's works with such presumption that whatever they do not approve of they think it right to fully condemn. It behooves us to judge God's ways with modesty and sobriety, confessing that His judgments are a deep abyss. When a reason for God's ways does not appear obvious, we ought to reverently and with deep humility look for the day in which that revelation comes.

Second, it is wise for us to remember that because animals were created for man's use, they must undergo much along with him. God made the birds of heaven and the fishes of the sea and all other animals subservient to man. Why, then, should we wonder that the condemnation of the one who has sovereignty over the whole earth should also extend to the animals?

The world was not willingly or naturally made subject to corruption, but because the corruption from Adam's fall diffused itself through heaven and earth.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

The horrifying cruelty sometimes found in the animal kingdom is not natural, but is the product of our sin. Though the animals did not sin against their Creator, they too were destroyed in the flood. The next time that we are tempted to think lightly of sin, let us reflect on the incredible suffering that we have brought upon this earth and tremble at the seriousness of sin.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Test Your Biblical IQ (Answer Key to "The Fall")

II. THE FALL (Genesis 2:8 - 3:24)

1. Where did God place man when He had created Him?

    Ans. Garden of Eden. Gen. 2:8-17.

2. Where was this garden?

    Ans. Probably near the present river Euphrates, in Asia.

3. What description have we given to us of this garden?

    Ans. That God made to grow in it the tree of life, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.

4. How was it watered?

    Ans. By a river that flowed to the sea in four branches, one of which was called the Euphrates, and may very likely be the river now known by that name.

5. Was man idle in the Garden of Eden?

     Ans. He was put into the garden to dress it and keep it.

6. Were there any restrictions in the use of the garden? 

    Ans. Man could eat of every tree or plant of the garden save of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

7. Did man obey God's command?

    Ans. He did not; he ate of the forbidden fruit. Gen. 3:1-24.

8. Who was the first transgressor?

    Ans. Eve.

9. How came it about?

    Ans. The devil, in the form of a serpent, deceived her by a lie, saying that they would not surely die, as God had said, but be as gods, knowing good and evil.

10. What foolish plan did they adopt to hide their shame?

       Ans. They hid themselves amongst the trees of the garden.

11. Can any place conceal us from God?

      Ans. None.

      "Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?... Yea, the darkness hideth from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." (Ps 139:7, 12.)

12. What is it that makes us fear to meet God? 

       Ans. The consciousness that we have sinned and that He knows it.

13. What ought we to do when we know that we have sinned?

      Ans. To confess and be truly sorry for our sin; to come to God, and through Christ, for pardon; and to forsake it.

14. How did God clothe the bodies of Adam and Eve?

      Ans. In coats of skin.

15. What punishment came because of this sin?

      Ans. Satan and the serpent in whose form he appeared were to be finally conquered; Man was to be driven from Eden, and forced to work for his support, and finally to die; and Woman was to endure suffering, and be ruled by man.

16. How was man to know that the ground also was cursed?

      Ans. By the weeds it brought forth, and the labor required to till it.

17. Was there not a special mercy granted to the woman? 

      Ans. Yes, that she should be the ancestress of Christ. Gen. 3:15.

18. Why could man live no longer in the Garden of Eden?

      Ans. Lest they should eat of the tree of life, and live forever upon earth in their fallen condition.

19. Is the tree of life ever mentioned again in the Scripture?

      Ans. In Revelation, as standing by the river of the water of life, in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7, 22:1, 2.

20. How did God guard the gate of Eden?

      Ans. By cherubim and a flaming sword.

21. Why did Adam named his wife Eve?

      Ans. Because she was the mother of all living; and the word means "living" or "life." 

Source: 

4000 Questions and Answers on the Bible

A Spire Book

Published by Pyramid Publications for the Fleming H. Revell Company

Test Your Biblical IQ (THE FALL)

II. THE FALL (Genesis 2:8 - 3:24)

1. Where did God place man when He had created Him?

  

2. Where was this garden?

  

3. What description have we given to us of this garden?

  

4. How was it watered?

  

5. Was man idle in the Garden of Eden?

   

6. Were there any restrictions in the use of the garden? 

  

7. Did man obey God's command?

 

8. Who was the first transgressor?

 

9. How came it about?

  

10. What foolish plan did they adopt to hide their shame?

    

11. Can any place conceal us from God?

  

12. What is it that makes us fear to meet God? 

    

13. What ought we to do when we know that we have sinned?

   

14. How did God clothe the bodies of Adam and Eve?

  

15. What punishment came because of this sin?

   

16. How was man to know that the ground also was cursed?

    

17. Was there not a special mercy granted to the woman? 

   

18. Why could man live no longer in the Garden of Eden?

     

19. Is the tree of life ever mentioned again in the Scripture?

    

20. How did God guard the gate of Eden?

  

21. Why did Adam named his wife Eve?

    

Source: 

4000 Questions and Answers on the Bible

A Spire Book

Published by Pyramid Publications for the Fleming H. Revell Company