All Things Bright And Beautiful.
There used to be this nursery song and poem back when I was a kid:
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things bright and wonderful
The Lord God made them all.
One of the major objections most folks (even religious ones) have against the idea that God is Perfect and All-Loving is Creation itself.
They'd reason that if God was truly perfect and loving, certain species of animals should never have been created. Animals which carry within themselves certain toxic or poisonous compounds or properties or tendencies. E. g. Mosquitoes (that transmit malaria parasites), snakes with deadly venoms, scorpions with venoms, and other malignant viruses and bacteria.
On the surface this line of reasoning is very appealing. It commands certain force of logic. These are species that have caused human deaths and griefs. If God was perfect and had any foresight He should have known that these creatures were capable of great damage and misery. Hence, the mere fact that they carried toxins which could kill is either proof that God failed or was a Sadist or He simply never exists.
How could a loving God design poisonous creatures?
But with little knowledge, robust perspective and deep insights we begin to realize that in creation nothing is poisonous. Humans label certain species of animals 'poisonous' or dangerous because of the limit of our knowledge. Our ignorance always informs our vocabulary. Always!
Again, nothing in nature created by God is toxic or poisonous. On the contrary, they are all beautiful with great benefits. In many cases, what you and I tag 'poisonous' or venomous is meant for one or all of the three purposes; (1) Survival, (2) Therapy & Healing and/or (3) Balance.
Firstly, a scorpion's or snake's venom is its defense mechanism. They need the venom for their survival in the wild. Without those toxic liquid compounds in their designs they are defenseless and would have been extinct a long time ago. God in His foresight and grand design gave them those venom to ensure their survival. Ditto for many venomous species. Absent the venom many species are defenseless. God doesn't want that.
Secondly, God in His foresight and grand design gave these species their venom for Man's survival. Yes, you read that correctly. For man's survival. Because of the venom of scorpions, snakes, spiders, wasps etc. you and I can and will now live longer and healthier lives. Talk about divine foresight. When God was creating the so-called poisonous snakes and scorpions He had your health in mind.
According to settled scientific data, scorpions' venom contain compounds which have been tested successfully to be useful for treating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and can help with heart transplants. Snakes' venom (certain types) contain compounds that can help fight breast cancer and even stroke. Some spider venom can be useful as pain relievers.
These so-called poisonous creatures carry within them medical solutions to many human diseases. Who would have thought that the most feared species hold the secrets to human well-being and wellness? A stinging bee does produce sweet honey.
There are many beneficial bacteria and viruses in the human body. All things bright and beautiful if you know how to look.
Finally, these malignant species for the most part were created to bring balance to nature. God in His foresight and grand design knew that for creation to thrive and flourish without an external agency interfering with it perpetually it (creation) would have to be perpetually interdependent and internally oiled. In other words, species would need to depend on one another for support. This in turn ensures balance in a fascinating way in that in the ecosystem no one is indispensable and no one is dispensable. The result is Balance!
The flower needs pollination by butterflies, bees and many flies. Many of these flies are in the food chains of other reptiles. Some of the reptiles are in the food chain of other animals. And so on.
For instance, many people including myself have often wondered why mosquitoes exist at all given that they have no clear usefulness. Well, if you love eating many aquatic and sea foods you might rethink your position.
Mosquito larva or eggs serve as foods for many fishes, frogs and other sea lifeforms. If fishes cannot feed due to lack of meal from mosquitoes, it means the fish population would drop significantly or some might even go extinct. That's less fish for you and I to consume as source of protein. Lack of protein means weaker immune system for mankind. Hence shorter lifespan for humanity. Can you now see why you and I need mosquitoes? Those tiny annoying creatures bring balance to creation, just like many others.
Anyone who argues that some species of animals prove that God is either a bad designer or a celestial sadist is terribly ignorant. He suffers from many blind spots. He does not see the BIG PICTURE! if he did he would come to the realization that,
all things bright and beautiful the Lord God made them all.
By Olakunle Alison