Just A Leaf

Digging through the archives, I found an article I wrote a few years ago looking at the concept of "Pets" as they related to the Bible. I hope you will find it uplifting and I look forward to any comments on the article. I know it's not thorough but I think there is enough there to encourage.


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2 Samuel 12

¹And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

²The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

³But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

⁴And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

⁵And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

⁶And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

This is a very interesting passage in the Bible because it shows the current attitude towards pets of that day. David was so angry that someone would take and kill another’s pet that it decreed that not only should the rich man pay the poor man back fourfold, but that he is also worthy of being put to death.

Little did David know that this story was about to be turned on him to convict him over taking Bathsheba for his wife by killing her husband…

This passage alone would indicate that there was no conflict amongst the Jews if someone decided to keep a “pet”. In fact, such animals were venerated to some degree, otherwise David would not have reacted as emotionally as he did. For us, this passage comes to life much more fully if you insert “cat” or “Dog” into it anytime you see the word lamb. Also I haven’t fully investigated it, it appears that dogs and cats were considered unclean animals by the Jewish community, which may be why a lamb is the pet of choice in this case.

The primary question that comes up when an owner gets particularly attached to one of his/her animals (the passage above indicates that the lamb was as a daughter to the poor man, as much a part of the family as the other children) is: Will Fluffy-poo go to heaven?

Unfortunately, the bible does not indicate any clear-cut answers along these lines, but as it was said to me: When we get to heaven, we will agree with God’s just decision on every matter.

It may be, however, that animals do indeed have souls (or ARE souls, would be more correct). This may be alluded to if you compare these two passages:

Genesis 2:7

⁷And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 7:15

¹⁵And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

The phrase “breath of life” could actually be interpreted: The Spirit of Life. The same word used to indicate our spirits in the Bible. In fact, we know that God cares for they animals… how then could they be soulless walking sentients?

Matthew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Luke 12:6
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Of course, there is a flip side to this as well:

Matthew 10:31
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

This comparison of scriptures indicate to us that animals, even the smallest birds, are important to God, but we, however, are worth much more than them.

Another interesting observation is that there was no death on the earth prior to the sin of Adam. That would also indicate the immortality of animals pre-fall. Now, however:

Ecclesiastes 3:19

¹⁹ Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ^[a] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.

On the physical plane, we have no advantage over the animal. We both have the same breath (which again, can be interpreted Spirit). There’s only one major difference in the destiny of man and the destiny of animal. Man has sinned. Animals did not. If animals don’t have a sinful nature how can they pay the price of death? Surely they can die physically… but if they DO have the breath of life, then under what penalty should it be taken from them? Like I mentioned earlier, God is just and has made the correct decision, I am only speculating with my meager knowledge and human understanding.

There are references in the Bible to animals in heaven and on the new earth, but they are debatable. Many insist that the “animals” in heaven are just symbolic of different types of angels or beings and not the literal beast referred to. The Bible uses the word “heavens” interchangeably with “sky” and, thus, makes it difficult to make concrete decisions as to heaven bound pets. All we really need to know at the end of it all is that God cares about the animals of the world, He made them, and He is a good God, and a just God.