“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

(Job 12:7–10, NIV)

A nursery school teacher once chauffeured a station wagon full of kids when a fire truck raced past, sirens blaring.  In the front seat of the fire truck sat a Dalmatian. The children began debating why the dog was there.

One said, “They use him to keep crowds back.”   

Another replied, “No, he’s just for good luck.”

A third chimed in confidently, “They use the dog to find the fire hydrant.”

Though good guesses, their answers were all incorrect.  But they do raise an interesting question: Of what use are all the animals to us?

In our modern world, we often think of animals in terms of their utility — what they can do for us.  Dogs guard us and protect us, cats control pests, cows and chickens feed us, bees pollinate crops.  And while all these roles are real and valuable, the Bible paints a richer picture.  Animals serve an even greater purpose — they reflect the wisdom, creativity, and provision of God.

In Job 12, Job invites us to see animals not just as tools, but as teachers.  The created world — every bird, beast, and bug — declares something true about its Maker.  Not with words, but with patterns, instincts, and design. “Ask the animals,” Job says, “and they will each you.”

Consider the way a dog sits patiently by its master, or how birds rise with the sun to sing. Think of the way ants work together in unity, or how deer leap with grace through the forest.  Each and every creature teaches us something about the divine nature.

God didn’t just make animals to serve us; He made them to speak to us — if we’ll listen.

Prayer: God of all creation, thank you for the animals you’ve placed in our world.  Teach me to learn from them and to see your hand in all living things. May I be filled with a sense of awe at your creativity and power.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day