Animals in the Bible Have Much to Teach

Written by a former veterinarian assistant and zoo keeper, "All God's Creatures: Spiritual Lessons From The Animals of the Bible," is a book that recently taught me not only a great deal about animals in general, but also gave me insight about many scriptures. From the lion, wolf and sheep to the bear, camel and eagle, certain passages that just sailed over my head in the past are now clear because I have the context and knowledge to grasp them.

The scripture that I used to name my blog, for instance, has a deeper meaning than what I'd assumed, based on what author Gary Richmond learned about snakes during his years at the Los Angeles Zoo, the fifth largest zoo in the world. Richmond wrote that he never quite understood the teaching from Jesus until he thought about it for several years, so I don't feel quite so ignorant.

The quote from the RSV Bible that he used goes as follows: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew, 10:16. (My quotation says "shrewd" as snakes, which fits their profile better. The photo is of a gopher snake.)

As Richmond put it, snakes are creatures that people tend to fear and even hate because of their great difference from us. Also, they aren't very smart. Snakes are born with instincts to survive, and are taught nothing from birth to death. So the passage didn't make sense to Richmond until one day he realized that Jesus was likely referring to the snake's inherent "watchfulness." Snake eyes are covered by a scale that is lubricated on the inside, which enables them not to need an eyelid, or to blink. Because snakes cannot close their eyes, they are always keeping watch, even when they sleep. If they are asleep and a leaf falls from a tree, it doesn't waken them. But if their eyes view images of predators, they instinctively awaken and evade them.

"The Jews considered watchfulness one of the main characteristics of wisdom," Richmond wrote. "To be watchful is to be on guard, aware, careful. If you watch what you're doing, you make fewer mistakes. If you keep watch, you are ready for your enemy. If you are watchful, you live longer and better. These things show wisdom."

Richmond explains that snakes are better equipped to survive than many other animals, and tries to show that they get a bad rap overall by pointing out their better qualities. For instance:

1. Snakes are clean animals. Despite moving on the ground, they do not pick up dirt because at the base of each scale is a tiny oil gland that secretes and coats the scale in front of it. The oil dries and hardens and nothing sticks to it. (Contrast that with sheep wool, which has an oil in it that keeps them cool or warm, but is a magnet for dirt.)

2. Snakes are sensitive, "feeling" oriented animals that can detect heat. Sidewinder missiles were designed to mimmick the heat-sensing capability of the viper.

3. Snakes are well-equipped to find food through sensing molecules of scent by flicking their tongues.

4. Snakes are incredibly patient and capable of enduring much -- such as long periods of thirst, hunger and being trapped in tiny spaces.

5. Snakes are at their best when they are in the light for awhile. (When their bodies are warm, they are better hunters.) They seek light over dark.

Unfortunately for the reputation of the snake, they are often used as a symbol of how God punishes people for their wickedness, which doesn't exactly warm people to their image. Asps, vipers and venom are cited as appropriate payback in several books of the Old Testament. Thanks to Jesus, however, snakes have at least one good quality that's cited and embraced -- watchfulness. Even snakes are redeemed to some degree by Christ.