Lessons from the Bird's Nest

# A Lesson from the Bird's Nest

"When you come upon a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life." - Deuteronomy 22:6-7

"The righteous care for the needs of their animals" - Proverbs 12:10a

"Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals." - Psalm 36:6

"Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" - Matthew 6:26

"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds!" - Luke 12:24

Have you ever seen a bird's nest on a tree branch, with eggs and a mother bird inside, sitting on her eggs? Once I saw a small nest on a forked branch containing four bird eggs, each about the size of the tip of my little finger. Scientists tell us that most bird species build nests only once a year, but some species, such as the Robin, can nest four or five times in one breeding season. The number of times birds lay eggs in a year can vary depending on the species and certain factors. Some bird species lay only one egg per year, while others may lay up to ten eggs or even more.

Scientists estimate there are more than ten thousand bird species in the world. They are classified into 44 orders, 253 families, and 2,384 genera. The number of bird species is nearly double the number of mammal species in the world. The most common bird species in the world is the domestic chicken. In 2023, it was estimated that the world had about 24 billion chickens, while the world population was only about 8 billion people. The rarest bird species in the world is the Junin Grebe, with a population under 250. In the Bible, birds are mentioned more than 300 times, with "doves" being the most frequently mentioned bird species (approximately 50 times).

Perhaps we do not eat bird eggs because they are too small and we rarely see birds laying them. However, in the Old Testament, after God led His people into the promised land, He gave them many commandments to restore their spiritual life and their relationship with God. One of these commandments involved a law concerning birds and their nests. When God wanted to teach compassion, He said: "When you come upon a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life" (Deuteronomy 22:6-7). There are at least three lessons God teaches us in these two verses.

First, we must have compassion toward animals. Compassion means being kind, benevolent, merciful, loving, sympathetic, and gentle in how we treat one another. For example, a compassionate mother. Here, God teaches us to be compassionate toward birds, creatures that are small and may be weaker than many other animals. When we find a bird's nest with eggs or young birds and a mother bird, on the road or in a tree, we may take the eggs and young birds, but we must let the mother bird go. God wants to teach us not to slaughter birds, but to help them reproduce. Living in the United States, we often see "Pet Rescue" organizations. When pets such as dogs or cats are lost or homeless, these organizations take them in, care for them, and nurse them back to health until they find them new homes. If we have compassion for small birds and animals, then we can have compassion for the people around us. Let us live thankfully to God, who is always compassionate toward us, by living with compassion toward everyone, having tender mercy and helping others! "For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 57:10).

Second, we must not be greedy. Although all creatures are God's gifts to us—the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea—God's Word teaches us that we may take eggs or young birds, but we must let the mother bird go, because the mother bird can lay more eggs and hatch more young. If we eat both the mother bird and the young, there will be no more reproduction. Today, in the United States, this law is also applied in coastal areas where fishing, shrimping, and crabbing are permitted. Depending on each state and city, laws regarding fishing and catching shrimp and crabs often forbid catching female crabs for food, and you may only catch a permitted amount. Fish must be the right species and the right size. Everything must be done in moderation, not excessively, without greed, but knowing that God always provides abundantly for all our needs. "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:8); "...do not be greedy..." (Romans 13:9); "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).

Third, we must be faithful and obedient to God in small matters. Many people regard this commandment as a small commandment among the 613 commandments, but God had it written in the Bible to teach us about faithfulness in small things. We must keep the small commandments to be able to keep the great commandments. Let us live as faithful and righteous servants to please God, and He will say to us: "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (Matthew 25:23).

How can we be compassionate toward animals, birds, and small creatures? We must know that all creatures were created by God the Almighty on the fifth day of creation (Genesis 1:20-23). Therefore, we must treasure them and care for them according to God's will—according to God's Word. Let us be compassionate, merciful, not greedy even toward small creatures, but always obey God and be faithful in small things so that God may be pleased, and He may bless us and grant us a long life on the earth!

Let us live with compassion toward small creatures, such as birds, be faithful in small matters, and not be greedy, so that we may avoid transgressing God's Word and losing His blessing! Even though it is the smallest or simplest commandment among all commandments, God still blesses those who obey it with a promise of blessing: "That it may go well with you and you may live a long life."

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 118:1). Let us obey God and live with compassion as He is always compassionate toward us. The apostle Peter exhorts, "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble" (1 Peter 3:8).

May God help us always to live according to His Word, help us to imitate God and live with compassion toward all people and creatures, offering to God what is best—a heart of obedience to serve God faithfully, with all our heart and all our strength; so that God's name may be glorified and many people may come to know God through our lives! Amen!

*May God's grace forever flow,* *Deep and vast, filling our hearts,* *Help all people, love them all,* *With compassion, gentleness, understanding!* *True sacrifice, give all to each,* *Zealous, respectful, steadfast in heart,* *Proclaim the Gospel throughout the earth,* *That people may escape from the void!*

*We pray to the Triune God,* *Help us cast off our selfish pride,* *Help us to live with love,* *Compassion, generous and far-seeing!* *That we may glorify Your name, O Father,* *For You are the God of boundless compassion!* *Help us serve others, forget our own concerns,* *By God's abundant power every day!*

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