In the article, “All the world’s a herbivore, until …“, I focused on the seed bearing aspect of herbs and trees so that they could propagate themselves and highlighted the providing nature of God to sustain life. Now as we go through the Bible, we come to Genesis 9:3 and learn that man becomes a carnivore as God includes in man’s diet, everything that moves as meat for him.
There are a few things that we can learn from this.
First, it is in fact, this verse that gives meaning to the verse preceding it, for Genesis 9:2 establishes that all the animals (beasts of the field), all the birds (fowls of the air), all sea creatures (fishes of the sea), and all moving things, shall have have fear of man. Until they came on the menu, they had no reason to fear man, but now they do. So God first made sure that the very nature of his creation changed, for their own safety, against their new predator – man. Hidden in this account is the treasure of knowing that God loves and cares for his creation, but even greater love does he have for man, for after the flood, it is plausible that with the green herbs and trees being scarce, God allows man to include meat in his diet.
Second, Genesis 1:27 establishes that God made man in his own image, and Ecclesiastes 7:29 proves that man was made upright (or perfect), meaning that there is no need for man to evolve, from, or to any other form, spiritually or physically, as evolutionists prescribe and promote vainly. Even some Christians subscribe to the idea, that the physical attributes, characteristics and capabilities of man, changed after his fall and in a sense evolved to adapt to their surroundings, but this is neither scripturally explicit nor supported. I believe that since man was made perfect, there is no necessity for such evolutionary gimmicks to make man who he/she is today.
Just take a look into your own mouth and you will notice that the relative number of crushing and grinding teeth (pre-molars and molars), which are more suited for a herbivorous diet, is more, when compared to the shredding or tearing teeth (canines), which is more suited for a carnivorous diet. But if man was to be a herbivore, then why would God fashion man with canines (even if less pronounced). This gives hint to us about the omniscience of God, who from the foundation of the world, knew of the propensity of man to fall away from grace. God, in his infinite wisdom, had made provisions in advance, for man to be able to survive pre- and post-flood; in the old world and the next.
Points to ponder:
God loves his creation, but he values you and me, much more. Jesus himself said, that God gives more importance to us than the sparrows of the air, not implying that he cares any less for these fowls of the air, but that he cares for us, more than he does for anything else (Luke 12:6-8).
God knows of our propensity to fall away from grace, for though man was made upright/perfect, man has sought many inventions (Ecclesiastes 7:29), with every inclination of his heart being evil from his youth (Genesis 8:21). So God has made provisions for the sustenance of life, in this world and the one to come, in advance. Even from the foundation of this world, Jesus Christ, the lamb of God was slain (Revelation 13:8), and only those who take him in (as in communion) will have life – eternal and abundant life, on earth (this world) as it is in heaven (the one to come). God told man, “Take, eat”. Jesus said, “Take, eat” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Have you?
Genesis 9:3 (KJV)
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV)
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
