“If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days” (Deuteronomy 22:6,7).

The blessing of prolonged days previously came with the commandment to honor your father and mother (cf., Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16), but it is repeated in our text with respect to birds. The Lord, who instills in animals concern for their young, wants His people to respect that relationship.

There is a related command: “When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; . . . And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day” (Leviticus 22:27,28). Also, thrice it is mentioned in the Law not to cook a young goat in its mother’s milk (cf., Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21). Why this concern for animals and their young?

The Lord Jesus, Maker of all (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:10), said that His Father knows when a sparrow falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29). Some Christians, professing to believe the Bible, kowtow to academics who speak of animals becoming extinct supposedly millions of years before Adam sinned, the inference being that God must be cruel. The world became corrupt, however, through Adam and Eve; extinctions followed. The faith statement that the world is millions or billions of years old clashes with the words of Jesus.

No academic went to a cross for sinners; Creator Christ did! Trust His Word! PGH