A Divine Mandate

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
Genesis 1:26‭-‬28 MSG

Being an oldest child one word jumps out of this passage. Can you guess what it is? It is responsible. God made man and woman responsible for the created animals.

I was watching a truck transport a load of sheep to slaughter today and thought about our responsibility to the sheep. No! I am not vegan! However, there is a tension here between consumerism and responsible care. In Australia we have issue with the sea transport of live animals to countries that insist on slaughtering animals their own way, predominantly Muslim nations. The animals on some ships have been grossly neglected. I would prefer the animals be slaughtered humanely here before they are transported, however, this is a tension we have to solve.

We are responsible for not over-fishing the seas and not killing too many of one particular species. God slaughtered the first animal to clothe man. The old testament was filled with animal sacrifices. Animals are food. Yet we must treat them as God's creatures and not kill for the sake of it and if we kill them, let's do it humanely.

As a woman I have more compassion and I know I cannot become attached to my food. I cannot eat my pets. Pets are family friends. Yet I would rather save the unborn babies slaughtered in droves for the sake of expediency. We must have a balance in all things.

When we were created in God's image we were give an ability and a divine mandate. Let us live as children of the creator, responsibly! Amen!