I would hope that our brothers wouldn't place too much faith in the belief that animals didn't eat meat prior to the time of Adam, for we simply don't know for sure. All we have is a few sentences on the matter in Genesis 1, which say: "27 So, God made man. He made him in the image of God. He made them both – the male and the female – 28 and God blest them, saying, ‘Reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and control it. Rule over the fish of the seas, the winged creatures of the skies, all the herding animals of the ground, all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground, and the whole earth.’
29 Then God said, ‘Look, I’ve given you all the seed-bearing plants upon the entire earth for [you to] plant, as well as all the seed-bearing trees for [you to] plant as your food. 30 And [I’ve given] greenish-yellow plants as food to all the earth’s wild animals, all the winged creatures of the sky, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground and have the breath of life.’ And that’s what happened."
Notice that the instructions -- that animals were only to eat green vegetation -- were not given to the animals, but to Adam, and his job was to rule over them. So, perhaps God's purpose for animals was to change after God's instructions to Adam on how the animals were to behave.
Not being dogmatic here, but we really don't have enough information to reach firm conclusions.
Hi JWHVACR
Re: "So, perhaps God's purpose for animals was to change..."
Why change something that is not broken....grin.
The only thing that is broken is the human family....change required. In what way could animal creation be broken so as to require change?
YHVH describes His creation as "very good".
"After that God saw everything he had made and, look! [it was] very good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a sixth day." (Genesis 1:31)
The Societies teaching there is something wrong with created life cycle...has no scriptural support and has confused many, imo.
The reference to "all" vegetation for food to "all animals" cannot be taken 100% literally, as there are poisonous plants not fit for "all" to consume.
The only restriction placed was that of restricting Adam and Eve eating from the designation tree.
Christian love and appreciation,
gogh
Actually, consider verse 29: "Then God said, ‘Look, I’ve given you all the seed-bearing plants upon the entire earth for [you to] plant, as well as all the seed-bearing trees for [you to] plant as your food.'"
So, perhaps there was more to their instructions.
Perhaps there is a great difference between plants and animals within the garden (that was prepared by the Lord for Adam) and those without where Adam was instructed to subdue and dress it.
Besides that, everyone knows the chickens laid eggs for the foxes to eat since the foxes weren't allowed to eat the chickens! ;)
jonalfred :heartbeat:
That's how I see it; as a paradise that was to spread, and be weeded, by faithful men.
Hey older man!
yes, I think that's right. Things we cannot know for sure will only bring us grief if we insist and pound on the door demanding insight. Those things we can know... well that is where the blessing is to be found.
[align=justify]We know for sure that God created many perfect and acceptable things. He did not make Adam a robot and left him plenty of room to move about the feel and think. He gave him perfect food and climate and a wonderful collection of interesting beasts to operate over as a king... while at the same time allowing him to realize that he was really quite alone. He fashioned him a bride from his own being so that he could find his completeness. He tried him for life and found him a failure due to a lack of experience and knowledge. He blessed him further in allowing him to experience trouble and suffering so that he might truly understand what disobedience to God brings about so that in the Millennial trial for life he might be able to make the better decision. If Adam is forever lost, Jehovah wasted lots of time developing and shaping him... 928 years! How unjust for a God who would condemn a man to destruction and then keep him around for a near millennium!
What the animals ate while in or out of the garden... mere conjecture that has zilch to do with anyone's salvation. I like your thinking process.
by the way, I've crossed that bridge quite a number of times in recent years. Perhaps next time I venture that far south we can have some Coffee and Conversation.[/align]
Much love
jonalfred :heartbeat:
by the way, I've crossed that bridge quite a number of times in recent years. Perhaps next time I venture that far south we can have some Coffee and Conversation.
Well, the next time you head this way (Tampa/St Petersburg area), send me a note and we'll meet up.
Gotcha... just not sure if it will be this summer/fall or next spring
:dontknow: