LightGrams
July 24, 2025
Volume 29, Number 22
You might think that I dozed while typing the title of this installment, but it’s the title of a Facebook post entered July 21 by the Carlisle East Fire Station in Britain. Use a little deduction and it won’t be hard to guess the story they related.
Four cows had broken through the fence the night before and wandered toward a nearby river. There they all became trapped in quicksand and sank up to their necks. The mud around them hardened, making it impossible for them to free themselves.
Crews from three different fire stations responded. The post reported that “trained crews worked tirelessly alongside the farmers to safely rescue all 4 cows and return them to dry land.” A photo of the rescuers showed them smiling even though covered with mud. The cows were exhausted, but safe as they lay on firm ground to recover their strength. It’s the kind of feel-good story we enjoy reading in the news.
Why do people take such an interest in rescuing animals in trouble? It all begins with God, the One in whose image we are created. He clearly is interested in helping people; that’s why we have the Bible. But we find in Scripture examples of His compassion for animals, too.
In Deuteronomy 25:4 we read this command: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” In this scenario, a farmer might be tempted to put a muzzle on the ox to prevent it from eating the grain it is treading out. That would be wrong, God said. An ox needs food to maintain strength. Proverbs 12:10 states, “A righteous man regards the life of his animal …” Even though God has approved eating the meat of animals (Genesis 9:3, etc.), He never approves of animal cruelty.
Jesus, God in the flesh, made a similar observation in Matthew 12:11. After being questioned about healing someone on the Sabbath Day, Jesus responded: “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?” Jesus could have been like the Pharisees and condemned such an action on the Sabbath, but He implicitly said it’s the right thing to do. Even animals deserve humane treatment (see also Luke 13:15).
But God’s greatest desire is to rescue people – made in His image – from the mire of sin. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matthew 18:12). Was Jesus giving advice on sheepherding? Look at the previous verse: “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11). No, Jesus was speaking of His love for lost souls.
I’m glad to read about people who care enough to rescue cows stuck in quicksand. I’m overwhelmed to know about God’s concern for me and all others who are mired to their necks in sin!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
~~~~~
Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.