Purpose of Insects in God's Creation Plan
Insects, like all other creatures, are understood within a biblical framework as part of God's creation, serving various purposes within the divine plan. Genesis 1:24-25 states that God created all living creatures, including those that creep on the earth, and declared them "good" [1, 6, 7, 9]. This initial act of creation establishes their origin and inherent value in God's design.
One primary purpose of insects, alongside other animal life, is to contribute to the glory of God [2, 6, 7]. The creation itself, brought into being by God's powerful word, reflects His will and power [8]. The intricate design and diversity of creatures, including insects, can be seen as testifying to the Creator's wisdom and skill [10].
Insects are also part of the created order over which humanity was given dominion. Genesis 1:26 and 1:28 state that God blessed humans and commanded them to "rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth" [4]. This dominion implies a stewardship role for humanity over all animal life, including insects [2, 6, 7].
While not explicitly stated for insects in the same way as for birds and fish, the command to "be fruitful and multiply" was given to animal life, indicating a divine intention for the proliferation and continuation of species [12]. For instance, Genesis 7:3 mentions keeping "seed alive on the surface of all the earth" for birds [3].
The Bible also records instances where insects serve as instruments in God's judgment or as sources of instruction. For example, the hornet is mentioned as an agent God would send to drive out the inhabitants of the land before Israel [11]. Locusts are frequently depicted as instruments of divine judgment, causing widespread devastation to vegetation [5]. Conversely, the ant is presented as an example of diligence and wisdom for humans to observe [1].
Scripture also categorizes certain insects in terms of their suitability for consumption. Leviticus 11:21-22 distinguishes between clean insects that were permissible for food, such as certain types of locusts and grasshoppers, and unclean, abominable insects [1]. This distinction highlights their role within the dietary laws given to Israel.
Various insects are mentioned throughout the Bible, illustrating their presence and impact on daily life in ancient times. These include the ant, bee, beetle, caterpillar, cankerworm, flea, fly, gnat, grasshopper, hornet, locust, lice, and maggot [1]. These references often highlight their natural behaviors or their effects on humans and the environment.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Insects — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25. Divided into Clean and fit for food. -- Le 11:21,22. Unclean and abominable. -- Le 11:23,24. Mentioned in scripture Ant. -- Pr 6:6; 30:25. Bee. -- Jdj 14:8; Ps 118:12; Isa 7:18. Beetle. -- Le 11:22. Caterpillar. -- Ps 78:46; Isa 33:4. Cankerworm. -- Joe 1:4; Na 3:15,16. Earthworm. -- Job 25:6; Mic 7:17. Flea. -- 1Sa 24:14. Fly. -- Ex 8:22; Ec 10:1; Isa 7:18. Gnat. -- Mt 23:24. Grasshopper. -- Le 11:22; Jdj 6:5; Job 39:20. Hornet. -- De 7:20. Locust. -- Ex 10:12,13. Bald locust. -- Le 11:22. Lice. -- Ex 8:16; Ps 105:31. Maggot. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Birds — Created by God -- Ge 1:20,21; 2:19. Created for the glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Herb of the field given as food to -- Ge 1:30. Differ in flesh from beasts and fishes -- 1Co 15:39. Power over given to man -- Ge 1:26; Ps 8:8. Names given to, by Adam -- Ge 2:19,20. Instinctively fear man -- Ge 9:2. Instinct of, inferior to man's reason -- Job 35:11. Lessons of wisdom to be learned from -- Job 12:7. Can all be tamed -- Jas 3:7. Given as food to man -- Ge 9:2,3. The blood of, not to be eaten -- Le 7:26. The property of God -- Ps 50:11. God provides for -- Ps 104:1-”
- Genesis “Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. -- Genesis 7:3”
- Genesis “Genesis 1:28 (BSB) — God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.””
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Locust — a well-known insect, of the grasshopper family, which commits terrible ravages on vegetation in the countries which it visits. "The common brown locust is about three inches in length, and the general form is that of a grasshopper." The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the Bible lands are the (Edipoda migratoria and the Acridium peregrinum ; and as both these species occur in Syria and Arabia, etc., it is most probable that one or other is denoted in those passages which speak of the dreadful devastations committed by these insects. Locusts ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reptiles — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25. Made for praise and glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Placed under the dominion of man -- Ge 1:26. Unclean and not eaten -- Le 11:31,40-43; Ac 10:11-14. Mentioned in scripture Chameleon. -- Le 11:30. Lizard. -- Le 11:30. Tortoise. -- Le 11:29. Snail. -- Le 11:30; Ps 58:8. Frog. -- Ex 8:2; Re 16:13. Horseleech. -- Pr 30:15. Scorpion. -- De 8:15. Serpent. -- Job 26:13; Mt 7:10. Flying fiery serpent. -- De 8:15; Isa 30:6. Dragon. -- De 32:33; Job 30:29; Jer 9:11. Viper. -- Ac 28:3. Adder or Asp. -- Ps 58:4; 91:13; Pr 23:32. Cockatrice o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: B — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25; 2:19. Creation of, exhibits God's power -- Jer 27:5. Made for the praise and glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Differ in flesh from birds and fishes -- 1Co 15:39. Herb of the field given to, for food -- Ge 1:30. Power over, given to man -- Ge 1:26,28; Ps 8:7. Instinctively fear man -- Ge 9:2. Received their names from Adam -- Ge 2:19,20. Given to man for food after the flood -- Ge 9:3. Not to be eaten alive or with blood -- Ge 9:4; De 12:16,23. That died naturally or were torn, not to be eaten -- Ex 22:31; Le 17:15; 22:8. Supply clothing to”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 1:3: 1:3-13 In the first three days, God formed the chaos into a habitable world. 1:3 Then God said: Nothing in ch 1 is created apart from God’s powerful word (cp. Ps 33:6, 9). • “Let there be . . .” and there was: God’s command enacted his will to create the world. God is not a part of creation or limited by it; he is the supreme ruler over everything (cp. Neh 9:6).”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 1:31: 1:31 The Creator declares his work good seven times in ch 1; following the creation of human beings, God declares it all very good.”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 1:22: Let fowl multiply in the earth - It is truly astonishing with what care, wisdom, and minute skill God has formed the different genera and species of birds, whether intended to live chiefly on land or in water. The structure of a single feather affords a world of wonders; and as God made the fowls that they might fly in the firmament of heaven, Gen 1:20, so he has adapted the form of their bodies, and the structure and disposition of their plumage, for that very purpose. The head and neck in flying are drawn principally within the breast-bone, so that the whole unde”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 7:20: Moreover, the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them,.... Not a single one, but several of them, and which may be understood of creatures so called, which resemble wasps, only twice as large, an insect very bold and venomous; see Exo 23:28. Aben Ezra interprets it of the leprosy: until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed; such of the Canaanites who escaped the sword of the Israelites, and hid themselves in holes and caverns of the earth; these the hornets would find out and sting them to death, until they were all destroyed. Th”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 1:22: 1:22 God blessed them: God’s blessing commissions and enables the fulfillment of what God has spoken (see “Blessing” Theme Note). • Let the fish . . . let the birds: These directives define the blessing. The fish and birds are fertile by God’s command, not by pagan ritual, as some of Israel’s neighbors thought.”