My Creature, My Teacher
by 
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
…
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
These two verses bookend the classic hymn, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”. The 19th century poet, Cecil Frances Alexander, asserted herein that the animal kingdom plays a significant role in teaching mankind of and bringing glory to God. Scripture affirms his belief in Old Testament passages, such as Job 12:7-10:
But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; and let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
As well as in New Testament passages, such as Romans 1:20:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
While animals, unlike men, do not possess spirits, they do possess somas and souls. Animals boast a physical and emotional makeup. Through these two shared elements between man and beast, “all creatures great and small” communicate truths to us about our Creator…if we take the time to look in and listen in on their world.
One practical way to learn from animals is by observing our own pets. The Job passage above says that we can learn from beasts, birds, and fish. Proverbs 6:6 goes so far as to add insects to that list: Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise. Whether you have a cat, a dog, a parakeet, a goldfish, or a praying mantis, you will find yourself inadvertently learning more about God through your pet ownership.
Currently, my husband and I have the privilege of owning four wonderful cats. Nearly ten years ago, our sister gave us one of the most cherished gifts we have ever received: a darling tabby cat by the name of “Luna”. At our nearest approximation, we have enjoyed around 40 of Luna’s direct descendants over the last decade. As we have seen our beloved farm-cat population wax and wane over time, we continue to be astonished by the fact that every single cat is so different, so unique, so special. They haven’t merely differed in fur patterns, but in their distinctive “personalities” (or, “animalities” as we like to say…considering that a cat is not a “person”).
Just like people and snowflakes, no two pets are exactly alike. However, just like people and snowflakes, there are certain glaring similarities between every cat…or dog…or parakeet…or goldfish…or praying mantis. (i.e. they all are born…or hatched; they all eat food; they all get sick sometimes; they all eventually die, etc.) In today’s article, My Creature, My Teacher, we will consider three truths that our treasured pets can teach us about the Lord. And though I appreciate all animals–snakes being one very notable exception–I will be using my own favorite animal to illustrate these truths. The message can easily be applied to any animal in your possession.
The following three points derive from Isaiah 41:10. First of all, My Creature, My Teacher teaches me…
In my December 2023 article, Never Send a Woman to Do a Man’s Job, I wrote about the three primary duties of husbands and fathers: to protect, to provide, and to promote their families. Isaiah 41:10 tells us that our Lord (being both husband and father over His family) serves as our protector, provider, and promoter.
Our topical verse starts out by saying, “do not fear, for I am with you” – that’s protection!
One thing I’ve learned from our cats is this: there will always be a bully in the bunch. Even the very toughest tomcat will eventually be dethroned by somebody bigger and stronger than him…whether it’s the new kitten on campus that’s grown a little too big for his britches, or a stray cat moving in on the original tom’s territory. Females can be just as competitive–sometimes more so–mercilessly growling and swatting at the other girls. The funny thing is, the underdogs (undercats?) get bolder when Master and Mistress are around. If a beta cat cannot see us, it will tremble, cower, and sometimes even run away from the alpha cat. But if our presence is detected, the threatened cat will simply hiss a good “leave me alone” sort of hiss at the bully, then slink over to us to be petted and crooned over. A pet’s fear is greatly diminished when in the presence of his protector!
If an animal, possessing only a soma and a soul, has enough sense to relax when his master is around, would not we humans who possess a soma, a soul, and a spirit do well to let our own Master quell our fears? While we can’t see Him, we can surely detect His presence through this powerful assurance in Isaiah: I am with you!
Next time you are harassed by “the bully in the bunch”, slink on over to Master…for He is your protector.
To every cat I’ve ever loved: thank you, My Creature, My Teacher, for teaching me Of God’s Protection!
Second of all, My Creature, My Teacher teaches me…
Our topical verse goes on to say, “do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God” – that’s provision!
Another thing I’ve learned from our cats is this: they are always counting on Master to deliver the goods. Our pets have an internal alarm clock that alerts them when it’s getting close to chow time. Right before lunch and supper every day, our cats can be found waiting patiently on the front stoop for a meal. The moment they hear the door unlock, they all stand at attention, meow expectantly, and rush upon Master for some kibbles. Even during those rare occasions when we are running behind with mealtimes, our cats aren’t prone to wander far from the stoop. Because of our consistency, they have developed an unwavering expectation that Master will eventually come to fill their hungry tummies…and they want to be first in line when he arrives!
If an animal, possessing only a soma and a soul, has enough sense to rely on his master for his needs, would not we humans who possess a soma, a soul, and a spirit do well to trust in our own Master? Surely we can practice as much patience as a hungry farm-cat when we remember Who we’re waiting on: I am your God!
Next time you wonder if God is ever going to “deliver the goods”…exercise a little more faith in your provider.
To every cat I’ve ever loved: thank you, My Creature, My Teacher, for teaching me Of God’s Provision!
Third (and last) of all, My Creature, My Teacher teaches me…
Our topical verse concludes with a bang: “I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” – that’s promotion!
Yet another thing I’ve learned from our cats is this: their lives always bring us immense joy. Last month, I saw a cute graphic on social media that said, “my cat does this amazing thing where he just exists and makes my whole life better.” I smiled from ear to ear, because it’s so true! The precious little lives of our animals matter to us a great deal. When new kittens are born, we are elated. We delight in each and every one as they grow and mature. And when they die (or are chased off by another cat), we feel a keen loss. Those of us who have a soft spot for our pets often find ourselves investing time and money to keep them in tip-top shape. The little runt kitten finds itself at the end of a bottle. The old mother cat with the bad tooth finds herself being swept away to the vet. The scrawny young tom finds himself scarfing down a can of tuna. Why? What makes us care so much? We care because these pets belong to us…and we desire to see what is ours surviving and thriving.
If an animal, possessing only a soma and a soul, has enough worth to delight his master, would not we humans who possess a soma, a soul, and a spirit be considered immeasurably valuable to our own Master? Small as we are, those who belong to Christ are counted worthy to be strengthened, helped, and upheld!
Next time you feel like your existence doesn’t matter…remind yourself that you have an adoring promoter.
To every cat I’ve ever loved: thank you, My Creature, My Teacher, for teaching me Of God’s Promotion!
In conclusion…
There is much that we can observe about our Creator simply by observing His creation. Whether you have a cat, a dog, a parakeet, a goldfish, or a praying mantis…or whether you simply appreciate animals from a distance…there are spiritual truths to be discovered in every corner of the animal kingdom. Today, the humble farm-cat has served to remind us Of God’s Protection, Of God’s Provision, and Of God’s Promotion. Purr-ty cool, huh?
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
…
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Thank you, Father, for our creatures…our teachers.
A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast. – Proverbs 12:10b
For God’s glory,
Mrs. Dustin Bolks
Chaste Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.
