I just realized that there were several questions I left unanswered when I previously discussed animals and souls. I want to continue the topic with a look at the proper attitude God wants us to have toward animals.

Instructions from God on Human Relationships with Animals

If God did indeed create animals with souls, rather than as mere empty shells meant to populate the world, then he would have given his world-stewards (mankind) special instructions in how to treat them and take care of them. He did this through the Jewish law. The following is a collection, though perhaps not exhaustive, of references to special instructions given from God to man in regard to the animals:

• Man was not blessed to eat animal flesh until after the flood. (Genesis 1:29-30)
• Man had the freedom/responsibility to name the animals, and action we still do today. (Genesis 2:30)
• None of the animals were a suitable helper, giving God the need to create woman (Genesis 2:30-25)
• God created garments to hide mankind’s shame after the fall. This was probably the first animal sacrifice. (Gen 3:21)
• Abel sacrificed animals (sheep) to God, although it is not known whether they were used more for food or for clothing (Gen 4:4).
• God demands an accounting of human lifeblood spilt by animals (Gen 9:5).
• The just care for animals, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel (Prov 12:10).
• If an animal hurts a human, it must be killed, but the owner is not to be blamed. That is unless it is an animal known to hurt others. If this is so and the owner has done nothing about it, then the owner is liable and must be put to death along with the animal. However, a fine could be imposed on him instead, allowing him to ransom his life due to the injury (Ex 21:28-32).
• If an animal falls into another person’s hole or cistern that was not covered, then the owner of the cistern must pay for the dead animal (Ex 21:33-34).
• If one person’s animal kills another person’s animal, then the live animal must be sold and the money split between the two of them. But, if the animal was known for being dangerous, then the owner of the live animal must pay in full (Ex 21:35-36).
• If someone is caught who has stolen animals, they must pay 3-4 fold, depending on the animal (Ex 21:37).
• God instructed several times not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk (Ex 23:19; 34:26; Deut 14:21).
• The lifeblood of animals must not be consumed (Lev 17:13-14).
• Whoever takes the life of an animal must make restitution, but whoever takes the life of a human must be put to death (Lev 24:21).
• Animals are not to be mated with different species (Lev 19:19).
• Humans should not mate with animals (Lev 20:15-16).
• Jesus’ justification for healing on the Sabbath was that men would help their animals out of cisterns on the Sabbath, but not help sick people. Christ was making sure that emphasis was put on helping people as much (if not more so) than animals, even on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6).

God Cares for Animal Well-Being

From these verses we can pick out a few things about God’s character and attitude toward animals and his expectations for our attitude toward them. In general it seems that God cares for the animals and desires for people to not be cruel to animals. Examples of this are when he gives commands for animals not to be cooked in their mother’s milk and to have people make restitution for actions done against another person’s animal.

He also places a high value on lifeblood. This could be for the health of the human consumer as much as respect for animal life. I believe he longs to want animals and humans to be healthy, which is also why he commands animals to not be mated with different species. Most animals who are specially selected and have certain traits bred out of them are more susceptible to succumb to disease. The poodle for example, while a definite dog breed, is a very delicate creature as compared to the wolf. 

The Proper Balance

The proper balance must also be placed when comparing animal life to human life. The Old Testament structure was to redeem human life with the sacrifice of animal life. This ended when the perfect human, Jesus, sacrificed himself to save the race from their sins. Animal sacrifice is no longer needed. 

However, there are still disputes of when one person’s dog bites another dog or mauls a child. In God’s eyes, it is perfectly just for someone of the child’s family to kill the bad dog in recompense. This may be difficult for dog-lovers to accept, but the same thing applies to cats, cows, or any other animal. God made humans in his own image and we need to respect that, no matter how we feel about our own animals. 

So while many buy all kinds of things for their animals, even clothing, in an attempt to anthropomorphize them, they are still just animals. People must be put first. Who might you be putting below the rank of an animal? Is it justified?