“The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:6-7 NIV)
The animal kingdom shows us how great and mighty God is. At the same time, nature also confronts us with the evil in this world. Wolves tear apart defenseless sheep. Lions kill antelopes and zebras. Animals become sick and die. That is not how God created them. Death and destruction only entered the world when the first humans rebelled against God. Their devastating effects are visible everywhere.
But there is hope. In several prophecies, the Lord God promises that this curse will one day be removed. When humanity is redeemed from sin through Jesus Christ, creation itself will also be restored. Then people and animals will once again live together in peace. The prophet Isaiah paints a picture of paradise, where wolves and lambs, leopards and goats lie peacefully side by side. This is how God intended it from the very beginning.
When you look around, it is easy to see the brokenness and imperfection of the present world. That can be painful and confronting. But do not remain focused on it. Look beyond it with eyes of faith, and see the future God promises—a future filled with peace.