Every Creature

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ~ Genesis 1:28

This verse outlines our responsibility to this earth and our God given authority over the animals and everything in it.  In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were commanded, or charged with the task of keeping the world orderly and to increase in number.  We were basically told to make babies and enjoy all the animals as pets.  The original design was for us to be in paradise and dwell with God.  But fast forward to the fall of man in Genesis 3 and we see the original plan has been altered.  However, we are still in charge and have a responsibility to take care of what God has given to us realizing that it is not ours, but His.  Our responsibility is to take care of the animals, this earth, and our children to the best ability we can.  We are to “subdue” the earth, or “bring under control” this world; which, if you look around, we could do a better job of.  This doesn’t mean that we force people to do, or act the way we want them to, but we should help each other with getting our own affairs under control.  Our tempers, our tongues, our pride, our greed; to keep the sins of the world at bay in our own lives so we can be lights for His glory to others.  Most of the time if you are subduing something, or someone, you are taking the intensity, anger, or hostility from the situation, or person.  We can bring about peace.  Peace to our children, our home and our world.  To have rule over the animals is not only a command to control the animals, but to protect them and to be good stewards of the natural world.  Yes, the natural world and the creatures in it were designed for our pleasure in beauty and to put food on our tables, but we are to protect them and defend them against mankind's own desires of pure sport.  Animals were not created by God for us to decorate our homes with.  So let us bring peace to the world and let us take care of God’s creation so that we may all be found to be good stewards of this place we call earth. ~ Amen