Living Creatures of All Kinds
A short reflection on Genesis 1:24–25
God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living thing: livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” And that’s what happened. God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw how good it was.
— Genesis 1:24–25
By God’s word, the land produces living creatures of all kinds—from the domesticated to the wild—each with its purpose and place within the incredibly biodiverse ecosystem of Earth. Each comes into being according to its kind, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life within the complex web of creation.
The land itself, created by the word of God, brings these creatures into being as the bearer and nurturer of all life. From the smallest, microscopic cellular building blocks of life to the massive elephant roaming the plain—the marvelous variety of God’s creative design is evident.
Throughout the Genesis creation narrative, God sees the results of the creative process and declares it to be “good.” The natural world has intrinsic value and beauty, demanding our appreciation and respect. Not only that, but God has “endowed them with procreative powers, bringing them into partnership with God in the ongoing existence of God’s good creation.”1 The Creator, we might say, created creators.
Part of the goodness of the creation is its ongoing creative function. There is no room in Genesis 1 for a disposable Earth. The world and all that is in it is good, infused by God with the power and permission to continue to recreate itself. Earth is God’s masterful design.
