The Bible makes almost a dozen references to dogs. St. Francis of Assisi spoke with animals and even befriended a wolf since he believed they were created by God, like us.
And, of course, dog is God reversed. What exactly do we mean by that? Just a charming remark we like to tell to other people who share our passion for dogs. Even the most devoted dog owners could equate their pets with the Creator.
God Created Dogs For His Children
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)
According to Genesis 1:26, the power to choose how to employ the skills of all living things on Earth, such as dogs, rests with humans. Given this, it’s reasonable to assume that God made dogs work alongside and be friends with humans.
Some of how dogs help us in our daily lives provide clues as to why God made them.
Dogs keep us aware when we are feeling down.
Loneliness, despair, and other mental health issues affect a sizable portion of the population, and their severity can vary widely from person to person.
“Emotional Support Dogs” provide friendship, unwavering affection, and somebody to focus on for their owners.
Research shows that having a pet can positively affect our health by lowering stress levels, blood pressure, and feelings of isolation. They can also lead to additional chances to meet new people since dog owners often love speaking with other “dog people.” They encourage us to come outside and work out.
Dogs help center and calm us.
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues affect a sizable portion of the population, and their severity can vary widely from person to person.
Dogs who provide therapeutic benefits to humans by providing unconditional love and companionship are called “therapy dogs.” There is evidence that they can help relieve stress and alleviate emotional distress.
For instance, Jesus said in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Because it assures us that God will look out for us, reading this verse from the Bible is sure to make us feel better, just like therapy dogs do. And just as the birds remind us that God is in charge, dogs also remind us that we can always put our confidence in him no matter what.
In addition, therapy dogs are often well-trained, well-socialized family pets. They get regular temperament and behavior evaluations. To be effective as a therapy dog, a dog needs to remain relaxed and confident in various situations, including those where they may encounter new or unfamiliar people or environments.
Dogs can save humans.
Search dogs are useful for locating missing people. They have numerous applications in search-and-rescue operations and disaster relief, such as tracking across remote places and identifying victims.
A dog’s sense of smell is extraordinary since it can pick up on individual scents even if others mask them. Bombs, narcotics, firearms, mold, and other scents are just some of the things that detection dogs are trained to sniff for.
Reflect on the following passage from Proverbs 20:36: “The rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs”.
Here’s another passage to ponder: “The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” (Proverbs 30:25)
So, what do you see? Have you noted how the Bible draws on animal behavior to teach us how we ought to live? This further supports the notion that God made dogs for humanity and that we should make the most of their talents to improve our lives while creating a comfortable environment for them.
When Did God Create Dogs?
Were dogs among God’s sixth-day creations? Doesn’t everyone agree that He made the animal kingdom? But did God create dogs as we know them? It’s really unlikely. Wolves and dogs diverged sometime between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.
We told each other the stories of God’s creation and providence from the beginning of time until around 2 000 B.C. Perhaps there weren’t even any dogs around back then. The final chapters of the Old Testament weren’t written until around 300 B.C.
Exodus 22:31 has the earliest known biblical reference to dogs: “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.”
Dogs likely existed around the time of the Exodus, which began about 1446 B.C. That’s fascinating because wolves would have needed to be domesticated between the time of Creation and 1446 BC. Did ancient peoples have trust in wolves enough to bring them inside?
Although wolves were feral and deadly, DNA studies have shown that dogs and wolves share a very similar genetic composition, suggesting that dogs may have evolved from wolves.
Dogs Weren’t Always Seen As Man’s Best Friend
The Bible portrays wolves in a negative light, portraying them as dangerous and wild animals. Dogs were frequently referred to unfavorably in the Bible. This implied that dogs were beneath people in some way.
For instance, the following passage does not concern dogs as animals. They are calling people “dogs.”
“Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.” (Philippians 3:2)
Another example comes from 1 Samuel 17:43: “He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”
The reference is once again to mankind. Dogs, but not people, are beaten with sticks in this example. However, none of the significance attached was divine. They belonged to God’s people.
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