Every Stone Speaks

God’s creatures · Lessons in real photos

Animals in the Bible

God made every animal, and the Bible is full of them. Sheep, a lamb, a donkey, a dove, fish and even sparrows each help tell the story of Jesus.

But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:7-10 (BSB)

Look at each animal, read the verse and talk about what it shows us about God.

  1. The lost sheep
  2. The Lamb of God
  3. A King on a donkey
  4. The dove
  5. Fishers of people
  6. Two sparrows

All photo lessons

A shepherd with his flock in the Jordan Valley, in a hand-colored photo from 1919.
A shepherd with his flock in the Jordan Valley, in a hand-colored photo from 1919. Photo: American Colony Photo Department, public domain

The lost sheep

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

Luke 15:4-6 (BSB)

Sheep wander off and can’t find their way home. A good shepherd goes looking for the one that is lost and carries it home with joy. Jesus said He is the Good Shepherd. He came looking for us.

Talk about itWhy would a shepherd care so much about just one sheep? What does that tell you about how Jesus cares for you?

Two young lambs resting in the grass.
Two young lambs resting in the grass. Photo: Richard Bartz, CC BY-SA 2.5

The Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 (BSB)

Long ago, God’s people offered lambs as a sacrifice for sin. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he called Him the Lamb of God. Jesus gave His life on the cross to take away the sin of the world, once and for all.

Talk about itWhy do you think John called Jesus a lamb? What did Jesus take away for us?

A mother donkey and her young foal.
A mother donkey and her young foal. Photo: Lilly M, CC BY-SA 3.0

A King on a donkey

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 (BSB)

Kings usually rode horses. But about five hundred years before Jesus, God promised a King who would come humble, riding on a donkey’s colt. On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, just as God had promised.

Talk about itWhat does it tell you about Jesus that He chose a donkey instead of a big horse?

A white dove at the door of a wooden birdhouse.
A white dove at the door of a wooden birdhouse. Photo: tormentor4555, CC BY-SA 3.0

The dove

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

Matthew 3:16 (BSB)

When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God came down on Him like a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven about His Son. The dove reminds us that God gives His Spirit to everyone who belongs to Jesus.

Talk about itDoves are gentle and peaceful. How does God’s Spirit help us be kind and gentle?

A fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, with Mount Hermon behind it, in a hand-colored photo from about a hundred years ago.
A fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, with Mount Hermon behind it, in a hand-colored photo from about a hundred years ago. Photo: Matson Collection, public domain

Fishers of people

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Mark 1:17 (BSB)

Peter, Andrew, James and John caught fish for a living on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called them to follow Him and catch people instead, by telling them about God. They left their nets and followed Him.

Talk about itWho is someone you could tell about Jesus? What would you say?

A house sparrow, one of the most common little birds in the world.
A house sparrow, one of the most common little birds in the world. Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

Two sparrows

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (BSB)

Sparrows were so cheap that two of them cost just a penny. Yet God sees every single one. Jesus said that if God cares for sparrows, He cares even more for you. He even knows how many hairs are on your head!

Talk about itWhat is something you worry about? How does this verse help?

Before you go

God made them all

Every animal shows something about the God who made it. “Ask the animals,” Job said, “and they will instruct you.” Next time you see a bird or a sheep, think about what it tells you about Him.

Talk about itWhat is your favorite animal? What does it show you about God?

Next: Plants and Trees in the Bible All photo lessons