The diversity of life on our planet is astounding; from the diversity of life in the sea and in the air to the diversity of land creatures as well. Each creature helps do its part to put the glory of God on display and sets the stage for our delight in our Creator. For the first four days of Creation, our good and loving Creator sets up a world where living things can thrive and where the crown of His creation, humanity, can live and thrive in His plan and purpose. Now on Day 5, He begins to fill His world with those living creatures, and on Day 5 we see two firsts. The first “First” is that God creates what the Hebrew calls “Nephesh” or a living soul; something with life in it. Vegetation is technically alive, but it isn’t animated by the breath of life like a creature is; this is new, this is divine CPR. Placing the spark of a heartbeat and the spark of desire and the breath of life into creatures of dust. That word for life is used for all creatures, whether in the water, in the air, on the land or for a human being. We can look at the living creatures around us and we are made of the same stuff. We are animated by the life and breath of our Creator, and that makes us want to treat our fellow creatures with value, be they animal or human. So in one way we have a lot in common with all living creatures. But in a greater and more significant way, we are not at all the same. As G.K. Chesterton said, “Camels are endowed with the finest camel hair brushes and yet they do not paint.” Why? God makes all living creatures on Days 5 and 6, but the crucial difference is that only humanity is made in His image, after His likeness. And as a result, every human being, unlike the animals, has a craving not ultimately for earthly things but a craving for God. The animals relate to God as Creator; human beings relate to God as Creator and Father. Animals are satisfied with basic desires; we were made to only be fully satisfied in God. And when we give our life only to pursuing the basest desires of our flesh as the animals do, we give up our unique place in Creation to glorify God and we take our place as just another animal. These first creature God makes tells us a lot about His plans and purposes for our world.
