Issue 1351 – Talk With the Animals – January 23, 2024
Permit me a flight of fancy this morning. What if we could talk to the animals?
I remember reading Hugh Lofting’s “Doctor Dolittle” books at a young age and wondering how marvellous it could be if, in fact, we could communicate with the other species on earth.
This morning, that same concept came to mind from my recent reading in the book of Genesis.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
To have effective dominion over something living requires some level of communication with it. Now, that may be an erroneous assumption, but for the sake of this morning’s thoughts, I am going to assume it is true.
We know from observation of the world around us that many forms of animal life “talk” among themselves. The language may be verbal, body language or scent, but communication is real.
It has been demonstrated that gorillas are capable of communicating with people using a surprisingly large vocabulary. The same is true of other animals as well.
Some border collies have been known to recognize and appropriately respond to over 500 words, with exceptional borders in the 700-900 word range.
They try their best to make us understand their language through barks and body language.
When someone gets a dog or cat as a pet; there is often a period of training. The owner trains the pet to respond to certain words, but the new pet also tries to communicate back and teach their human to understand. It’s a fascinating process to watch.
There is some level of communication in the human/animal world, even though the world is marred by sin. I am certain that it must have been more so in the days before the fall.
Now in many ways, it may not matter whether we can talk to the animals or not. It’s not a theological hill I want to die on. yet, I think there is something we miss out on because there are barriers there.
In particular in the realm of worship. All of creation worships God and longs for things to be made whole again.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. Psalm 145:10-12
Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth, young men and maidens, old and young together. Psalm 148:8-12
Perhaps that is nothing more than poetic language, but I believe there is more to it.
Imagine if you can, the sound of all creatures praising God and in languages that we could understand. What a marvellous thought.
Maybe it’s simply a whimsical thought, but I truly believe all creation does give glory to God regardless of whether or not we can understand and appreciate it.
What do you think? Is it possible that we can, to some degree at least, talk with the animals?
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2024 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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