Dear Friends, as some of you know, I am having problems with the email sending platform that I use which sends you a weekly email with a link to the week’s blog.  After many, many frustrating hours of troubleshooting, and random emails sent that I didn’t intend- sorry!, I’m still not sure you will receive this blog.  A new sending service may be in our future!  Anyway, here is last week’s blog that you didn’t get.  (I hope.).

I’m about to make a fool of myself with this story.  But those of you with pets will understand.  This morning, Tuesday, we had an appointment at the vet to get our male dog neutered.  It was a spur-of-the-moment decision after a disturbing display of alpha dog on Sunday evening.  Monday morning we called the vet and they scheduled our dog for two months hence- the first available appointment.  We asked to be put on the notify-if-there’s-a-cancellation list and to our surprise that afternoon they called and said there would be an opening Tuesday morning.  Last night I kept waking up with it on my mind.  I know.  It’s a dog.  It’s a routine surgery.  We’re fortunate to have medical care for our pet.  There are many things more important to spend emotional energy on.  But I did pray for our dog in the night, as well as humans I love.

Here’s the reason I felt it was ok to pray for the dog:  Scripture tells us that God himself has concern for animals!  Our God is kind and compassionate to all his creatures, both mankind and animals.  He is aware of the details of their lives and he cares.

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.”  Matthew 10:29-30

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”  Luke 12:6-7

God had a heart-to-heart talk with suffering Job at the end of the book of Job.  God pointed out that he was a caring Creator who was personally involved with his creatures both animal and human.  Three chapters are dedicated to God’s recounting of the animals he takes delight in.

God to Job:  “Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
Do you know how many months they carry their young?
Are you aware of the time of their delivery?
They crouch down to give birth to their young
and deliver their offspring.
Their young grow up in the open fields,
then leave home and never return.  Job 39:1-3

God also had a heart-to-heart talk with the unwilling prophet Jonah who was angry at God for sparing a large enemy city.  As part of God’s explantion for saving Nineveh, God cites the large number of young children and also the large herds of livestock both of whom were innocent and not deserving of punishment.

Jonah:  “I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.  Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted [destruction] will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?. . . should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”  Jonah 4:2-4, 11

Please don’t hear me saying that animals are the same value as humans.  (“you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”)  Jesus died for humans to bring them into a sweet relationship with the Father.  But at the end of time when everything is set right, the whole of creation including the animals, the earth, and even the far-flung galaxies will share in the renewal that God will bring.  All the decay, all the dying, all the suffering will be gone forever.  (Except in hell.)  The new earth and the new universe will enjoy life, peace, and joy with nothing to mar it because God will live with the humans who love him.

“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,
and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!
And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness.  Her people will be a source of joy.  Her people will be a source of joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!”  Isaiah 65:17-19, 25

“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.  Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.”  Romans 8:19-23

The great Creator declared his creative work in making the creatures that inhabit Earth, “Good”.  He allowed his only son to be born as a human among animals.  And he chose a lowly donkey to share Jesus’ kingly reception into Jerusalem the week of his death.  But when Jesus comes again, he won’t be riding a humble beast of burden.  Oh, no.  He will be riding a mighty war horse to destroy his enemies.  He will come as the conquering king to take his rightful place as the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. . . On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”  Revelation 19:11-14, 16

We have a compassionate and merciful God filled with unfailing love who is eager to turn back from destroying.  We can call out to him with obedient hearts and experience his kindness every day. 

Updateon the dog:  We’re inexperienced about what to expect after surgery.  All the ups and downs of caring for a sick dog sure made us think of parents who care for sick children, especially chronically ill ones.  I want to pray for them and encourage them more.  So grateful for dear Husband who is a stellar member of Team Dog Care!