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BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO ANIMAL WELFARE
“What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the
milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have
not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead,
you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty” (Ezekiel 34:2-4 2).
Another example of God’s displeasure at cruelty to animals is found in Proverbs 12:10: “The godly are concerned for the welfare of
their animals, but even the kindness of the wicked is cruel.” God calls cruelty to animals wicked.
Finally, God rebuked Balaam for beating his donkey, when that donkey was trying to save his life. “Why did you beat your donkey
those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey”
(Numbers 22:32-33).
Balaam was about to be killed by the Lord, and God was using that donkey to try and save his life. This is a great testimony to how
God values animals, and will even use them to try and save man from His judgment.
“What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the
milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have
not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead,
you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty” (Ezekiel 34:2-4 2).
Another example of God’s displeasure at cruelty to animals is found in Proverbs 12:10: “The godly are concerned for the welfare of
their animals, but even the kindness of the wicked is cruel.” God calls cruelty to animals wicked.
Finally, God rebuked Balaam for beating his donkey, when that donkey was trying to save his life. “Why did you beat your donkey
those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey”
(Numbers 22:32-33).
Balaam was about to be killed by the Lord, and God was using that donkey to try and save his life. This is a great testimony to how
God values animals, and will even use them to try and save man from His judgment.
| The Prayer Of A Stray Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care! I'm tired of running, I'm sick with despair. My body is aching, it's so racked with pain. And dear God I pray as I run in the rain, that someone will love me and give me a home. A warm cozy bed I can call my own. My last owner neglected me and chased me away to rummage in garbage and live as a stray. But now, God, I'm tired and hungry and cold. And I'm afraid that I'll never grow old. They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones, while I run in the streets just looking for bones! I'm not really bad, God, please help me, if you can. For I have just become a "VICTIM OF MAN"! I'm wormy, Dear God, and I'm ridden with fleas, and all that I want is an owner to please! If You find one for me, God, I'll try to be good. I won't run away and I'll do as I should. I don't think I'll make it too long on my own, cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone. Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry, cause I'm so afraid, God, that I'm gonna die! And I've got so much love and devotion to give, that I should be given a new chance to live. So, dear God, PLEASE, PLEASE answer my prayer and send me somebody who WILL really care... Author Unknown |
| On this Page: Biblical References to Animal Welfare - The Prayer Of A Stray - Poem For Cats - A Dog's Prayer - A Horse's Prayer - Rainbow Bridge |
| POEM FOR CATS And God asked the feline spirit Are you ready to come home ? Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul And, as a cat, you know I am most able To decide anything for myself. Are you coming then ? asked God. Soon, replied the whiskered angel But I must come slowly For my human friends are troubled For you see, they need me, quite certainly. But don't they understand ? asked God That you'll never leave them ? That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity ? That nothing is created or destroyed ? It just is....forever and ever and ever. Eventually they will understand, Replied the glorious cat For I will whisper into their hearts That I am always with them I just am....forever and ever and ever. Author Unknown |
| A DOG'S PRAYER Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do. Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear. When it is cold and wet, please take me inside... for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements... and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth... though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land... for you are my god... and I am your devoted worshiper. Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger. And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest...and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands. -- Beth Norman Harris |
| A HORSE'S PRAYER To Thee, my master, I offer my prayer. Feed me, water and care for me, and when the day's work is done, provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort. Always be kind to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Never strike, beat, or kick me when I don't understand what you want, but give me the chance to understand you. Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. Make sure that I am properly shod that I may serve you in comfort. And finally, Oh My Master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly tortured and starved to death; but do thou, My master, take my life in the kindest way and your God will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Him who was born in a stable. AMEN (Author Unknown) |
| RAINBOW BRIDGE Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... (Author unknown) |