A long, long time ago, when the world was still very new, God had a wonderful idea. He wanted to fill the earth with life. On one particular day, God said, “Let the water be full of fish and other living things. And the sky shall be full of birds that fly!”
Suddenly, the water was teeming with fish and animals swimming and diving. Big fish, small fish, colorful fish – everyone frolicked happily in the water. And above them in the sky flew beautiful birds with colorful feathers. They fluttered and sang happy songs.
God looked at everything he had made, and he liked it very much. “That’s good!” he said contentedly.
Then God spoke again. He said, “Let the earth bring forth beasts. Big animals, small animals, animals that run and crawl!” And lo and behold, all kinds of animals appeared all over the earth. Big elephants, roaring lions, gentle rabbits and many, many more! Animals in the fields, animals in the forests, and animals in the steppe—the whole earth was full of life.
Each animal was unique and specially made. God had created them all, and he rejoiced in all that he had made.
Message of history
God made the animals because He wanted the earth to be full of life. He lovingly cared for every creature. God loves all his creation, including us!
Bible passage
Genesis 1:20-25 (Schlachter 2000):
*”And God said, Let the waters swarm with teeming living creatures, and let birds fly over the earth in the firmament. And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, after their kind, and all feathered birds after their kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea, and the birds shall multiply on the earth.” Then evening and morning became the fifth day.
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures, cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind.” And so it happened. And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the earth after their kind. And God saw that it was good.” *
