Thoughts On The Passing of a Beloved Horse

This is something I wrote on the occasion of the "putting down" of a horse that had belonged to a parishioner for over 28 years. It was a traumatic experience and she wanted some words from the Bible read before the procedure out there at the back of the pasture. A huge hole had already been dug by a large front end loader. The horse was still able to stand and be led around but was terminally ill. Genesis 1:24-28

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. 27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

This Genesis passage points out that all animals God made are good and find his favor on them. Secondly, he made mankind, and endowed men and women with reasoning power. This allows for the responsibility of caring for and administrating over the lives of all animals. Further passages show that responsibility extending to and allowing for the use of animals for food, work and companionship. All which implies holding over the animal kingdom the power of life and death in a responsible way. This would include taking the life for food and taking the life as a measure of mercy. Note that the passage does not include nor allow for this in relation to ending a human life.

Rev. Billy Graham has this to say about the eternal life of animals: “God has a special reason and place for each of His created beings. Animals, too, have a purpose in God’s creation. Man, as the highest order of creation, has been given dominion over the animal kingdom (Genesis 1:26-28). 
We believe that animals were intended for man's enjoyment and use. The Bible itself does not indicate that there is life after death for animals. It may be that God's purpose for animals is fulfilled on this earth. However, if animals would make us happier in heaven, surely there will be a place for them there. Some Bible interpreters have called attention to Isaiah's description of the peace of God's future kingdom where he says that "the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox" (Isaiah 65:25). Heaven will lack nothing that is good and that will bring glory to God.”

I agree with Dr. Graham and feel it is brash and arrogant for anyone to declare positively that animals do not share in heaven’s glory. I feel we can be confident of it based on the whole of the Bible and the nature of God’s love for us and that which brings us joy.

Another important passage is that of Matthew 10:28-30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

The highlighted words are those that jumped off the page as I read this anew for this occasion. No being, animal or human, is outside God’s care even when it has fallen in death, I believe. This is a significant inference that I have never heard anyone point to. We are highly valued in his sight as are the things and animals for whom we care and love.

Finally, Job 39:19-25 and Revelation 19:11-16, put together. give recognition to the prominence of the horse in God’s creation. In this chapter of Job, God is speaking to Job and lets him know “who is boss” by describing how carefully and purposely he made and maintains his creation and created beings:

19 “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? 20 Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting? 21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray. 22 It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against its side, along with the flashing spear and lance. 24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. 25 At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’ It catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

Why was the horse made with such courage and character? For use in the spiritual climax of the universe, the final battle Christ wages with his church against the evil one to usher in final justice. Revelation 19:11, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True (Jesus). With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

We know that Jesus comes out victorious, that we are there and horses play a prominent role. Whether these are resurrected horses and personally known to us we cannot say. But is it possible? Yes. It gives us all the more reason to make sure that we have spoken to the one that is “Faithful and True”, Jesus, God the Son, and asked for forgiveness for our sins, based on his shed blood, and committed our lives to him so that we are among that “army of heaven”, following Jesus.