Life, animal and plant

All living creatures and plants were made by God and are sustained by him.

Animal life

Animals were created by God

Genesis 2:19; Psalm 104:24 See also Genesis 1:20–25

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Animals are cared for by God

Psalm 145:15–16; Matthew 6:26 parallel Luke 12:24 See also Deuteronomy 22:7; Psalm 104:10–12, Psalm 104:14, Psalm 104:17–18, Psalm 104:21, Psalm 104:27, Psalm 136:25, Psalm 147:9; Jonah 4:11; Matthew 10:29

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Animal life is controlled by God

Daniel 6:22 See also Numbers 22:28; Jonah 1:17; Hebrews 11:33

My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

Animal life has been placed under human care

Genesis 1:26 See also Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:19, Genesis 9:2; Psalm 8:6–8; Daniel 2:38; Hebrews 2:8; James 3:7

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”

Animals serve human needs

Genesis 3:21; Matthew 21:1–3 parallels Mark 11:1–3, Luke 19:29–31

Animal life saved by Noah from the flood

Genesis 6:19–22

Animals subsequently given to humanity for food

Genesis 9:3–4; Deuteronomy 12:20–25

Clean and unclean animals

Genesis 7:2–3; Leviticus 11:47

Animals used in sacrifice

Genesis 4:4 See also Genesis 8:20; Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22

while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

Animal life glorifies God

Psalm 148:7, Psalm 150:6

Plant life

Plants were created by God

Genesis 1:11–12

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Plant life is often short-lived

Matthew 6:30 parallel Luke 12:28 See also Psalm 90:5–6, Psalm 103:15–16; Isaiah 37:27, Isaiah 51:12; 1 Peter 1:24; Isaiah 40:6–8

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Plants are provided for food

Genesis 1:29–30 See also Genesis 2:16–17, Genesis 3:2, Genesis 9:3; 1 Kings 18:5; Job 28:5; Psalm 104:14, Psalm 147:8–9; Daniel 4:32; Joel 2:22

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth — everything that has the breath of life in it — I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Plant life glorifies God

Psalm 96:12–13