Taming Predators

Here is more to consider about taming animals. After the flood in Genesis, animals were filled with the fear of humans*. Their fear protects them, and also protects us from predators because animals (like humans) will be accountable for shedding human blood**. Once we remove their natural fear by taming a predator, we remove the protection afforded us from attack, and it would be foolish to believe their predatory nature would fully change as a result of our efforts to tame them. Their fear may be removed (and perhaps ours), but not necessarily their instinct to hunt. Consider even the predatory behaviour of our domestic pets, less apt to hurt us because of their size, but still instinctive nonetheless. Consequently, I think we share responsibility when we remove the fear and dread from an animal that can hurt us, and it subsequently does. Pride can lead us to believe we can succeed where others have failed.


* Genesis 9:2-3 (NIV) ² The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. ³ Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.


**Genesis 9:5⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.

Not Feeling Good Enough to Pray?

Sometimes life leads us down roads we never expected. Have you ever started something you felt bad about, but didn't want to stop? When I was younger, I was surprised to discover that some of the things people warned me about were ... well, fun. How could this be - if sin is bad, shouldn't it hurt? The simple answer is, it can feel good and hurt you (or others) at the same time. That is why it is so hard to stop, and why people warn us not to begin.


When I find myself on the 'wrong side' of this dilemma, I still maintain my relationship with God. People may judge me, and I need not convince anyone I am right or wrong. I pray about what I have done, or am about to do. Why kid myself, God knows my intentions? And I invite him to intervene, and confess my inability to stop. We don't have to be perfect to come before God, or no one would qualify. But thanks to Jesus' work on the cross, we still have access to communicate with God.


Romans 7:19 NIV "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

The Word

Communication is so important. One means of oppression is to limit communication with others. This occurs when abusers alienate individuals from their friends and families, or authorities isolate nations from the rest of the world, restricting access to media and controlling what is published and broadcast *. Conversely, when people freely communicate they can solve problems and share knowledge, information, wisdom and truth.


* The following verse reminds me of the situation in Cuba (2012): Job 20:19 NIV "For he [the wicked] has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build."
Per Wikipedia "Cuba had the second-highest number of imprisoned journalists of any nation in 2008 (the People's Republic of China had the highest) according to various sources, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international NGO, and Human Rights Watch."