Biodiversity in the Bible
‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the skies and seas.’ With this blessing in Genesis 1:22, God filled the sky, land, and sea with abundant life!
Read John 3:16 and Psalm 104
- How much does God care about the world he has created?
Read Genesis 6-9
- What did God do when creation was threatened?
God warns of destruction to those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18). God wants us to preserve creation’s fruitfulness.
Read Ezekiel 34:17-19
- What does this passage show us about the way we should treat God’s creation?
- What are we doing to care for creation and God’s creatures? Do we resist the desire to be greedy? (Matthew 6:33).
- Do we provide places for flowers and birds on our land or in our communities?
- Do we preserve the diversity of our food and medicinal plants?
Keeping our places fruitful for all God’s creatures brings praise to God, the creator and owner of all things!
God’s view of trees
Trees are mentioned at both the beginning and end of the Bible, and play a crucial role in both situations.
Read Genesis 2:8-9
- How does God regard trees?
Read Revelation 22:1-2
- Why do you think God chose a tree to illustrate eternal life?
This tree symbolises the completion of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ. How grateful we are that it was on another tree – the cross – that our sin (which began with Adam and Eve disobeying God and picking the fruit from the one forbidden tree) was forgiven.
Trees and difficult times
Read Deuteronomy 20:19-20
- What commands are given here about the use of trees during war?
In war the rules of life change. People can forget to love in the same way. The environment suffers too. In those days, trees were cut down to use in attacking enemy cities. God could not stop that, as wars sometimes become unavoidable. Instead he tried to limit the damage caused by war. So fruit trees were not to be cut down. Why? Because it was not in their future interests. No fruit trees means no fruit, less food and hungry people. Here is plain teaching that we have no right to destroy trees and forests without a real need.
- Can you think of mistakes made in your local area, which have resulted in less food or worse health?
Our stewardship of the environment
Read Genesis 1:26-31
God created all things and there was perfect harmony between all creation and God. But as we read in Genesis 3:14-19, the fall brought about sin and separation from God for both humanity and creation – breaking the perfect harmony that had existed.
However, throughout the scriptures, the theme is that of God working through his people – priests, prophets and kings – to bring the creation back to what it ought to be. He still calls his people to be stewards of this creation. In the Old Testament, God gave laws that will enable us to live in harmony with each other and the environment.
Read Leviticus 25:2-7 and Exodus 23:10-11
- Discuss the significance of this law. How would it help protect the environment?
Read Leviticus 19:9-10
- What would be the effects of this law? Is it practised in your community?
- How should this law affect the profit that farmers make from their land?
Read Deuteronomy 8:7-9
What was God’s intention for Israel – and for us? When we disobey God, many things (including the environment) go wrong. This is summed up by Paul in Romans 8:20-23.
- What do you see as the major problems facing the environment – both world-wide and in your own area?
Pray that we will be open to the guidance of the Spirit and that we will be obedient to what God wants us to do about our environment.
Responsibility to God
Read Deuteronomy 6:3-5, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:15. These verses all teach us something about our duty towards the land and God’s creation.
- Discuss the part that God expects us to play. What does this mean in practical terms in our own lives?
- When we work in our farms and gardens, look after our animals and care for the sick, on whose behalf are we really working? See Psalm 24:1-2.
- When our children or our neighbours are sick or unhealthy because they are not properly fed, who is most concerned?
- In what ways is it possible for us to spoil things that belong to God?
Discuss how we can work together to care for God’s creation. Pray that we will learn more effectively what it means to be responsible stewards.
Trees as a picture of faith
Read Psalm 1:1-5, Jeremiah 17:7-8
- How can Christians be compared to trees?
- How many comparisons can you find in these passages?
- What do these verses teach about the Christian faith and what happens in times of difficulty?
- Have you found this true in your lives? If not, why do you think this might be?