Calvin on why animals suffer (Zephaniah 1:2, 3)
But it may be now asked, why God pronounces his vengeance on the beasts of the field, the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea? For no matter how much the Jews may have provoked him by their sins, innocent animals ought to have been spared. If a son is not to be punished for the fault of his father (Ezekiel 18: 4) but the soul that has sinned is to die, why did God turn his wrath against fish and other animals? This seems to have been a hasty and unreasonable infliction.
But first, let this rule be borne in mind - that it is preposterous in us to estimate God's doings according to our judgement, as perverse and proud men do in our day. They are disposed to judge God's works with such presumption that whatever they do not approve, they think it right wholly to condemn. But it behoves us to judge modestly and soberly, and to confess that God's judgements are a deep abyss. When a reason for them does not appear, we ought reverently and with due humility to look for the day of their full revelation.
This is one thing. Then also it is right at the same time to remember that as animals were created for man's use, they must undergo a great deal in common with him. God made both the birds of heaven and the fish of the and all other animals subservient to man. It is no matter for wonder then that when he is condemned who enjoys a sovereignty over the whole earth, it should extend also to animals.
We know that the world was not made subject to corruption willingly - that is, naturally but because the contagion from Adam's fall diffused itself through heaven and earth. Hence the sun and the moon, and all the stars and also all the animals, the earth itself and the whole world, bear the marks of God's wrath, not because they have provoked it through their own fault but because the whole world is involved in man's curse.
The explanation then is that all things were created for the sake of man. Hence there is no ground to conclude that God acts with too much severity when he executes his vengeance on innocent animals for he can justly involve in the same ruin with man whatever he has created for his use.
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