Animals

The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (Exodus 4:11)

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 3:19)

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (Romans 8:20-22)

Hence Jesus’ commandment, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)

Which is what it was from the beginning. Proverbs says

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, (Proverbs 12:10)

And after the flood God established His covenant with Noah and his descendants after him, and with every living creature that was with him, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with him. All that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. (Genesis 9:9-10)

Wild animals of the field have even been given to serve kings (Jeremiah 27:6)

And animals’ fear of man did not start until after the flood when God gave them as food as well as plants. (Genesis 9:2-3)

Finally, there is the story of Balaam and his donkey, where after Balaam strikes his donkey for the third time for what Balaam perceives as disobedience, the Lord opens the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam,

“What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.”

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?”

And he said, “No.”

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. “But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.” (Numbers 22:28-33)

Why did the donkey speak when the angel of the LORD was there?

References

Exodus 4:11 – who makes him mute or deaf

Ecclesiastes 3:19 – they all have the same breath

Romans 8:20-22 – Creation was subjected to futility

Mark 16:15 – preach the gospel to all creation

Proverbs 12:10 – righteous has regard for the life of his animal

Genesis 9:9-10 – God includes in the covenant every living creature that comes out of the ark

Jeremiah 27:6 – Animals given to serve king Nebuchadnezzar

Genesis 9:2-3 – God gives animals as food for man and puts fear of man in them

Numbers 22:28-33 – Balaam and his donkey

Exodus 9:4 – “But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’”

Isaiah 11:6-9 – And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.