The relationship between God, us, and animals

This is one of the several baby rabbits that have come to hang out in our yard on a daily basis.  We LOVE these sweet, little adorable creatures!  This little one, just a few weeks old, doesn’t seem to be afraid of us at all. It just sits perfectly still and watches us move around whenever we’re outside.  May Abba protect it from all harm!

As you probably know, the animals YHWH created, suffered greatly because of MANKIND! The earth was cursed when Adam and Eve sinned, and after that, all the living creatures YHWH had made, began to FEAR man. 

Animals were cursed because of man … but, they are also redeemed because of man's acceptance of YHWH and His Torah, and of the gift of salvation provided by the death and resurrection of Messiah. THEIR fate has always depended on OUR fate....

Genesis 1: 20 God said, "Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures (nephesh/souls), and let birds fly above the earth in the open dome of the sky." 21 God created the great sea creatures (nephesh) and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and God saw that it was good.

22 Then God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the water of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 So there was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day. 24 God said, "Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature (nephesh) - each kind of livestock, crawling animal and wild beast"; and that is how it was. (CJB)

Genesis 9:2 "And the fear of you and the dread of you is on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea – into your hand they have been given. (CJB)

Genesis 9:8 God spoke to Noach and his sons with him; he said, 9 “As for me — I am herewith establishing my covenant with you, with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you — the birds, the livestock and every wild animal with you, all going out of the ark, every animal on earth.

11 I will establish my covenant with you that never again will all living beings be destroyed by the waters of a flood, and there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God added, “Here is the sign of the covenant I am making between myself and you and every living creature with you, for all generations to come: 13 I am putting my rainbow in the cloud — it will be there as a sign of the covenant between myself and the earth.

14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth, and the rainbow is seen in the cloud; 15 I will remember my covenant which is between myself and you and every living creature of any kind; and the water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings.

16 The rainbow will be in the cloud; so that when I look at it, I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of any kind on the earth.”  17 God said to Noach, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between myself and every living creature on the earth.” (CJB)

When “the end” finally comes for the “old earth” and the Redeemed get to live in Eternity with YHWH in the NEW Heavens and earth (Revelation 21), ALL the animals will PRAISE Him.  We will be ALL be worshiping YHWH together!

Revelation 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea - yes, everything in them - saying, "To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!" 14 The four living beings said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped. (CJB)

For more on the relationship between God and animals, please see our article, “Do animals go to Heaven?”