Man was a vegetarian before the flood. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, "...by the sweat of his brow, he tilled the ground for food." (Genesis 3:15)
Man became a meat eater after the flood. When Noah's family and all the animals came out of the ark, GOD said, "The fear and dread of you (mankind) will fall upon all the beasts of the earth, birds of the air, creatures that move along the ground, and fish of the sea. They are given to your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be given to you as food. Just as I (GOD) gave you green plants, I NOW give you everything." (Genesis 9:2-3)
An important mention is "lives and moves." What we call "road kill" is for the animals to eat, not man. Another important mention GOD said was, "But you must NOT eat meat that has the lifeblood still in it." (Genesis 9:4) Matthew Henry's Commentary further explains, "...that is, man shall NOT eat the raw flesh as do the beasts of prey." (Volume 1, page 70, Column 1) That's another separation of man from the animal kingdom. We know of the consequences of salmonella and other diseases associated with eating raw meat.
Man's cruelty definitely came upon the animal kingdom. What is so harsh is the slaughter of thousand's of elephants a year by poachers just for their ivory tusks! The slaughter of animals to make fur coats when there are so many man made fibers, silk from silkworms, cotton fibers from the cotton plant, wool from sheep that doesn't mean the taking of their lives. It's a tragedy of killing animals like baby seals, minks, and rabbits just for the pleasure of one's edification to own such an "extravagant" coat.
I still claim GOD's Word for the animal kingdom from Psalm 145:21, "Let all creatures praise His Holy Name forever and ever." I believe this occurs in Eternity. In this fallen world the animals suffer to become food, clothing, and labor for mankind. GOD will reward them to forevermore be with Him upon the New Earth. They will know their Creator and He will reward them for being created only to die for man's fallen needs. Like GOD's Chosen people, once all are with GOD in Eternity forever, the animals too will never die again for in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem, there will never again be death. "For death will be swallowed up in Victory!" (I Corinthians 15:54)
What GOD has prepared for His Chosen of Israel and His Church (and the animal kingdom) has yet to be revealed! Make sure you belong to Him through the Salvation of Jesus Christ! Accept Christ Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross for your sin and the Holy Spirit will open your heart and mind to His Glory!
Next Sunday: The Substitutionary Sacrifice of Baby Animals for Sin
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