Most people like a good steak – a T-bone or a sirloin – or how about a good filet mignon? Well, in order to have a steak, there has to be cattle. Today we are going to talk about day six of Creation, when God created cattle.
According to the account of creation in Genesis 1, on the fifth day God created all the creatures in the sea and all the birds that fly in the heavens. Then on day six He proceded to create all of the land animals. In Genesis 1:24-25 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’’ and it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps on the ground after its king; and God saw that it was good.”
Now, there are three types of land animals that God created: cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth. “Creeping things” is probably a reference to smaller animals that crawl or creep close to the ground. Beasts of the earth, then, is a reference to the larger animals – what we call “wild animals.” These two categories cover the smaller and larger animals. Well, it is interesting to note that there is another category called “cattle.”
Cattle, is the Hebrew word “behemoth,” and it comes from a root that means “to be mute.” Thus, it is used to refer to animals that are more or less passive. Now these animals can live in the wild (animals like elephants, rhinoceros, and water-buffalo), but usually the word is a reference to animals which are more docile. These would be cows and oxen and sheep.
On day six, then, God created animals to be used by mankind – He created cattle.
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
Hey – God made domestic animals to serve us. Think of that when you eat a steak, or ride a horse, or pet your cat or dog.