How it Was Supposed to be

Mankind’s Relationship With The Animals

Being made in the image of God means we were, and are, supposed to reflect God’s holiness and perfection in a way that no other lifeform in the world can. Dominion was a gift of love from God to us, and then in turn, a gift from us to the animals and the rest of creation. God entrusted the care of the animals and all sentient life to us. We were to be their caretaker, to show them the love that God has for them and us in a very special and tangible way.

Painting©Deirdre Lee

God did not want man to be alone. He wanted a ‘help meet’ for him. Whilst it is clear that Adam’s ‘help meet’ could not be found in the animal kingdom, God does tell us that Adam was to have a relationship with the animals.

God knew that the only way Adam wouldn’t be lonely was to create Eve. She was made from Adam’s rib and so she was part of Adam. Only she could be his partner for ever. Apart from God Himself, Eve was the only person who could complete Adam. She would be his companion and wife for eternity. They were literally one flesh. How many couples can you say that about today? This is why it is important to pray for your future spouse, if you are not yet married. Only God can bring you to your ‘help meet.’ Only God can bring you that person He made for you.

And if you’re already married? Well, still keep praying that nothing will separate you, and that your bond to each other will only be strengthened.

Anyway, I transgress. Now back to the animals.

Think about this…

When a couple have a child, one of the first things they think about is what they are going to name that child. It is a very exciting thing to think and ponder over. Often discussions about names will begin as soon as the pregnancy is discovered. Sometimes even sooner than that. It is not unusual, for a woman in particular, to have favourite names picked out for future children from a very young age herself.

As a child, a girl will play with dolls and prams, often having fun naming her ‘children.’ Everyone accepts without question that naming your own child yourself is very important. But why is that?

Have you ever stopped to think about that?

How would you feel if, as soon as your child is born, the midwife handed you your newborn and then proceeded to tell you what you must name them? Alternatively, what if you simply registered the birth and had to wait on an envelope arriving telling you what your child’s name was?

It’s unthinkable isn’t it?

You would be outraged.

And rightly so.

Naming a child is more than just important. There is something deeply significant and spiritual about a parent giving a child its name; the name they will be known by their entire life. Parents put a lot of thought into choosing what they believe to be the most beautiful name imaginable for their child. They take time and effort to make sure it is not only a name they like and one they think the child will love, but also that the chosen name will fit with the child’s surname.

It is a gift from parents to their child, and is part of the bonding process. A sign and a badge if you like, that the child is a part of them .

Even a Surname, which is not usually chosen, is deeply significant. It marks that child as belonging to a specific family or group. It bonds siblings together.

So what has all this got to do with the animals?

To find out, we need to go back to Genesis.

God knows that it is not right for man to be alone. He created Eve to fulfil that deep need and longing in Adam. However, God brings every single living creature to Adam in order for him to name them! God doesn’t name the animals - Adam does. Now why did God do this? God didn’t do this with any other part of His Creation. It is only the animals which God told Adam to name.

I would argue that this was a special process between Adam and every other living creature. By naming them, Adam was bonding with them.

This is a very deep and fundamental question regarding out relationship with the animals. We were to be their caretaker. We were to bond with them and look after them. Naming them, I believe, reinforced and cemented this relationship.

Painting © Deirdre Lee

Animals enjoyed and immersed themselves in creation and with each other. But it is clear from these verses that they were also meant to enjoy a very special relationship with us. The relationship with us was perfect. Fear did not exist in this utopia. Love was perfect. There was no separation. Eden was a place we can only imagine. We could communicate and speak with the animals in a very clear way!

How can I say this?

How do I know this?

We have to search for the hidden treasures in the Bible. Study it to try to fully understand as much as possible about what God says on any given topic.

So does God say that animals had the power of speech?

Talking Animals

Is it really possible, that before the fall, animals could talk as we think of language today, or did God only give this peculiar gift to mankind? Most people, Christian or not would find such a concept of an animal talking as impossible. The idea is relegated to the realm of Disney movies and children’s story books. It is not something most people would consider a rational thought. But should we be so quick to dismiss it?

I would suggest that Christians should again look to God’s word and see if such a thing was not only possible, but if in fact it was more than likely.

Does God say that animals had the ability to talk? Do they, even now, have the ability to reason and to understand, to pick up on our thoughts and feelings at a deep and profound level? I believe so. No one can argue that they have at least the most basic level of understanding when you have a companion pet living with you. It is clear they understand the most simple language when one only has to mention the word ‘walk’ to a dog.

Pets answer to their names. They display excitement, sadness, joy, ecstasy, loyalty, fear and even grief. They display different temperaments and personalities.

They are more than just a collection of cells and atoms walking around. They are thinking, feeling, beings, which makes them sentient.

Which means they have a soul.

So lets look at this concept of animals having the power of speech in the next blog post to see if God’s word lends it any credibility.