Earth, Generate Life!

God spoke:

Earth, generate life!

"Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals,

all kinds.  And there it was:

wild animals of every kind, cattle of all kinds,

every sort of reptile and bug. 

God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24-25 

On Day Six of creation, God decided to fill the land that he created on Day Three with animals of every size, shape, color and description.  I wonder what God called out when He wanted a lion to appear?  Did He call out a description?  A unique name?  The whole idea of it is so mind-boggling that many people prefer to believe in no creation at all - it is so much easier to explain!  I choose to believe that my animal friends were God's doing - in the same way that I am His creation.

I love to visit zoos - although I must admit that I have not been to very many!  Our zoo here in Richmond is very small, but if I were to name a particularly outstanding feature, the Richmond Metro Zoo would be known for its giraffes.  The giraffe exhibit is very large, and there is a feeding station where you can get up close and personal with the animals, including feeding them.  My favorite portion of the Pittsburgh Zoo were the lions.  The Bronx Zoo has a wonderful tiger exhibit (Tiger Mountain), while Chicago has the massive Shedd Aquarium.  The Phoenix Zoo (one of the nation's top five zoos for kids) has the Monkey Village, and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo has a Wildlife Safari Park.  So many animals fall into the category of "see but don't touch" that without a good zoo or the opportunity to travel and see these animals in their natural habitat, we would have no knowledge of the hundreds of animals that God brought into existence. 

When God finished with the creation of all these creatures - every animal, reptile, insect and bug - He wasn't quite finished with Day Six.  No, the very best of God's creative energy was yet to come.

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All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small.

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.