4:190 – Crazy Creatures
#faithbites #faithjourney crazy
Setting
Some #faithbites are deep in dogma, others are deep in personal experience, this one is just bananas and fun. For the past two nights, I have been at war with a cricket. And yes, the cricket is winning. He is chipping all night long and my fearless warrior corgi isn’t helping to kill the beast. So I’m a bit tired and grumpy! While I know that crickets are an important part of the circle of life, they still drive me crazy. This led me to look into what other strange creatures are in the Bible. God in his wisdom made everything for a purpose. Here are some creatures you may not have known.
Today’s Questions: What crazy creature have you been fascinated with in the Bible? How does the knowledge of these creatures impact you?
Scripture
Ophanim – An Angel that is described below.
Ezekiel 1:15-21 – 15 As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. 16 The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. 17 The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. 18 The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around. 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. When they flew upward, the wheels went up, too. 20 The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went. 21 When the beings moved, the wheels moved. When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped. When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
Behemoth – A beast with a belly button that is huge and strong
“Look at Behemoth,
which I made along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16 What strength it has in its loins,
what power in the muscles of its belly!
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
its limbs like rods of iron.
19 It ranks first among the works of God,
yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20 The hills bring it their produce,
and all the wild animals play nearby.
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream surround it.
23 A raging river does not alarm it;
it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
or trap it and pierce its nose?
- Leviathan – a massive sea creature that breathes fire
- Psalm 74:14 – It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
- Job 41:1-34 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+41%3A1-34&version=NLT
- Dragons – https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?hs=1&q=dragon
Reflection
I could go on describing each creature, but I think you get the point. Here are more that you might be interested in: Beasts of Revelation, Giants, Cockatrice, Daniel’s Angel, Unicorns, Cherubim, Nephilim, and Talking Animals. This article goes into more details about the different creatures: https://www.grunge.com/160736/the-craziest-creatures-described-in-the-bible/
An interesting fact is that different translations of the Bible have these creatures listed differently. It all depends on how certain words were translated.
As we close, we ask what is the takeaway? Is it that crickets are evil? (Yes, they are). Is it that the Bible has crazy creatures? Not exactly. It’s that God is all powerful. If he could create a noisy cricket, a Behemoth, dragons, and you, he did it for a purpose. You are a creature hand-selected by God for a purpose. Maybe it’s not to keep me up all night, yes I’m hung up on the cricket, but it is a wonderful one. We just need to trust in God, follow him, and live out our glorious purpose.
Prayer
Lord God, you are all powerful. You made creatures from the bugs to the whales, from unicorns to dragons to behemoths. You made the entire universe and us. We are in awe and thank you for our place in your creation. We pray for your continued guidance, love, and help as we live according to your way. Amen.
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