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Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14.4
A second principle relevant for knowing and doing God’s good will is embedded in Deuteronomy 25.4, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” The principle affirms and clarifies God’s original mandate to humankind to “exercise dominion” over all creatures for the goodness and glory of God (Gen. 1.26-28).
All creatures – animate or inanimate – belong to God and exist at and for His pleasure (Ps. 24.1: 119.89-91). All our use of creatures – any creatures – must be understood within the light and against the background of this overarching reason for being. We may use all creatures in ways consistent with the goodness and glory of God.
Thus the Law of God affirms the legitimacy of domesticating and harnessing certain creatures – those that are appropriate to the task – to aid men in their work. As Solomon explains, this statute does not merely permit using oxen to tread out the grain, as at harvest time. They may also be used for other aspects of the agricultural process, such as tilling the fields, pulling carts (Ps. 65.11), and so forth.
Human beings are called to exercise dominion over all the creation, not just oxen. Whatever we may do to demonstrate the goodness of God and to advance His glory, we are permitted to harness the resources of creation to those ends.
At the same time we must bear in mind that creation has “rights.” Thus, we may not abuse or misuse the creation in pursuit of our aims, as we have seen.
A second principle thus emerges: While animals and all creation enjoy certain rights as creatures belonging to God, they are by God put at man’s disposal for doing good work that advances justice and glorifies God.
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