We see, before
God tells us that Noah did everything as God directed, that God promised to
provide food for Noah his family and the animals. Matthew 6:33 reveals Jesus
will provide all of our needs when we fully seek Him, but not luxuries, the
things we really want but don't need. God knows what our needs are, and food is
a vital one. After all, Matthew 6:33 is right after a series of verses where Jesus
describes how animals and flowers are fed and clothed. God provides all their
needs, and will provide hours to. That is why that verse is so vital, seek ye
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you.
It's
interesting that Noah apparently didn't bring meat. God tells us in Genesis
1:29-30 that all plants and herbs had been given for food. That which was
gathered for food seems to mean only that which was originally meant to be
eaten. One doesn't gather meat the way one does fruit, grains, and so on.
This doesn't
mean animals weren't eating other animals by this time, of course. Romans 5:12 says
by one man sin came into the world and death by sin, so that death passed on to
all men, for that all have sinned. This death passed to the animals right away
as well, with their instincts suddenly telling them to consume and beware of
each other.
However, the
same God who closed the mouths of the ravenous lions for Daniel in Daniel 6
when he was in the lions' den overnight can do so for longer if need be.
Between hibernation, the storage of excess food as some animals do, and
other things, God could work it so no animals were hungry for anything but the
vegetarian diet they had originally. Indeed, while there was plenty of room for
the animals as adults since there were only two of each kind, there could have
been mostly smaller animals that didn't need as much food, yet who were beyond
babies and thus off mother's milk.
Noah, of
course, didn't know exactly how all this would work, but he trusted God by
faith to fulfill what was needed that he couldn't do himself. That is important
for all of us, especially in these difficult days. God has a perfect plan He
will use to allow Himself to be glorified. He calls us to trust Him and simply
follow His leading.
