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Animals are such an important part of our world, from the smallest of insects to the largest of the animal kingdom. But which ones were important in the Bible, and why? Were animals viewed the same way thousands of years ago as they are today?
All about Bible Animals starts with the very first animals that God created. Each double-page spread introduces another incredible creature, along with fascinating facts, Bible quotes and picture references. Tricky Bible words and concepts are explained throughout, as we discover which Bible animals were valued, feared, disliked, or even part of a miraculous rescue! As we journey through the Bible, we’ll find out that God can even use animals to help fulfil his plans and promises (and he often does).
Animals appear in the first chapter of the Bible. God made all kinds of animals even before he made people.
Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the universe and everything in it with his power. He spoke light into existence, and mountains and trees and oceans, and habitats for all kinds of creatures. God invented feathers and fins, fur and fangs, and he did it in six days!
Next time you are amazed by the details of a tiny ladybird, the swimming action of a platypus, or the strength of a soaring eagle, remember: that’s God showing you how imaginative and how mind-blowingly powerful he is.
The Biggest Superpower
It's thought there are about 8.7 million different animal species in the world, though only 2.1 million have been found and named so far. Can you imagine inventing millions of animals? Just because humans could never do this, it doesn’t mean God couldn’t. God really is that powerful!
Craziest Creatures
What’s the weirdest animal you’ve ever heard of? The aye-aye, platypus, sloth, axolotl or blobfish? These are just some of the unique creatures (who don’t get a mention in the Bible) that show us the vastness of God’s imagination!
Creative Qualities
In the book of Romans, Paul writes:
Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made.
(Romans 1:20)
The Bible says that when we look at his creation, it helps us to understand God. Next time you are amazed by the details of a tiny ladybird, the swimming action of a platypus, or the strength of a soaring eagle, remember: that’s God showing you how imaginative and how mind-blowingly powerful he is.
Proceed with caution! Slithering, scaly and potentially scary, snakes often make people feel uncomfortable. But the Bible tells us about a talking snake! It’s in Genesis chapter 3, not long after God finished his perfect creation:
The serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’ ”
"You will certainly not die,” the serpent said.
Who Was Really Talking?
While snakes can be dangerous, they are not evil. The serpent in this story was really God’s enemy, Satan, who lied to Adam and Eve in order to convince them not to trust God.
Serpent or Snake?
In the original language that Genesis was written in, “serpent” and “snake” are the same word. Some people think that because God cursed serpents to crawl on their belly (Genesis 3 v 14), they may have previously had legs like other reptiles.
Curses and Consequences
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit they weren’t supposed to eat, it started a chain reaction of bad things including fear, shame, pain and even death. Their perfect friendship with God was broken, and they had to leave God’s perfect garden.
But God made Adam and Eve a promise. He would make a way for his perfect friendship with people to be restored.
This promise would later be fulfilled in Jesus dying on the cross and coming back to life, fixing what humans had broken. Check out the book to discover more incredible creatures that teach us about God’s purposes and to learn all about God’s amazing rescue plan. Preview an example spread below!
This is an adapted extract from All about Bible Animals by Simona Piscioneri. Bursting with colourful photography, this essential reference guide helps curious young minds to learn about incredible creatures created by God and the Bible stories they connect to, unpacking the Bible story as it goes along. Part of the "All about…" series of fascinating fact books, the hardback format makes it a perfect gift for kids aged 7-11.
Simona is wife to Dominic and mother to two adult daughters. She has studied Fine Arts and Education, and works as the Kids' Ministries Leader at her home church in Devonport, Tasmania.
