All creation declares the glory of God. Part of that glory is manifested in the ways that He designed specific creatures to benefit His highest creation, mankind. This was driven home to me again recently when preaching through the creation account in Genesis 1. I was struck by the fact that before God created man, He created an antidote to human anxiety and made certain that it would be widely available around the world.
He did it on the fifth day when He created animate life. On that day filled the seas with fish and the skies with birds. “And God said, ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.’ So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth’” (Genesis 1:20-22).
Every living creature has its role to play in displaying God’s glory by fulfilling the purpose for which He created it. This is confirmed by God declaring each phase of creation good after its completion. Creation is good in and of itself because it comes from God and exists for God. I find it fascinating, however, that God had in mind a special purpose for birds beyond their beauty and contributions to the various ecosystems of the earth. This purpose is not revealed until the New Testament when Jesus called special attention to birds.
Every living creature has its role to play in displaying God’s glory by fulfilling the purpose for which He created it.
He could hardly have picked a more readily available creature to consider. Researchers estimate that over 50 billion birds fill the world’s skies today. The most populous wild bird is the red-billed quelea, which is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. There are about 1.5 billion of them, followed by 475 million mourning doves, 310 million Robins, and 160 million pheasants. It is safe to say that birds are heeding their Maker’s command to “multiply on the earth.”
I live in Southwest Florida where we get to see and hear a variety of birds year-round. From our national symbol, the bald eagle, to cardinals, burrowing owls, great blue herons, and sand hill cranes—this part of the world is a great place for bird watching. And the Lord Jesus told us to do just that. In Matthew 6:26–27 He commanded His disciples to “Look at the birds of the air.”
Have you ever really done that? Have you deliberately taken time to stop and consider birds? God created them, each according to its kind. And our Lord calls attention to them by telling us to look at them. Consider them, He says, because “they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Then Jesus adds, “Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
On the fifth day of creation God created an antidote to anxiety. And He made this antidote ubiquitous so that if we will make even the slightest effort to obey the Lord Jesus and look at the birds, we will have ready access to one of the most comforting, life-giving truths in the world. God takes care of His birds. How much more will He take care of His image-bearers? More than that, how much more will He take care of His own people whom He has purchased for Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of His own Son?
God takes care of His birds. How much more will He take care of His image-bearers?
This is a vitally important truth. Jesus makes it by reasoning from the lesser to the greater—since God takes care of birds you can be sure He will take care of His people. The Apostle Paul makes the exact same point by reasoning in the opposite direction—from the greater to the lesser. He says in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Jesus says, consider the birds. Your Father takes care of them. He will take care of you, too. Paul says, consider Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Your Father did not spare Him but gave Him up for us to save us from sin & reconcile us to Himself. It is impossible, therefore, that He will not also with Christ freely give us all that we need.
Take time this week to stop and look at birds. Remember that their Creator is your Creator. Their Provider is your heavenly Father. Just as He cares for them, so He will most certainly take care of you.
