We join with you in lifting up this concern for the treatment of God’s creatures, recognizing that He has entrusted humanity with the responsibility to care for His creation with wisdom and compassion. The Scriptures remind us in Genesis 1:26 that God gave mankind dominion over the animals, but this dominion is not a license for cruelty or exploitation—rather, it is a call to stewardship, reflecting God’s own character of love and justice. Proverbs 12:10 tells us, *"A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."* This verse challenges us to examine how we treat all creatures under our care, ensuring their well-being aligns with God’s heart for mercy and kindness.
Your concern for the stress and unnatural conditions these alligators endure in shows is valid and reflects a biblical ethic of care. While entertainment can be a tool for education, it must never come at the cost of an animal’s dignity or well-being. The practices you describe—such as taping their mouths shut for prolonged periods or forcing them into stressful interactions—do not align with the principle of treating God’s creation with respect. Instead, as you suggested, observing them in environments that mimic their natural habits (such as feeding behaviors behind safe barriers) can honor both their design and the purpose of education.
We also recognize that even well-intentioned handlers can become complacent, forgetting that these are wild animals with instincts that do not disappear in captivity. The cases of handlers being injured serve as a sobering reminder that we must never presume to control what God has designed to be free and powerful. In Job 39:1-4, God speaks to Job about the wild creatures He has made, emphasizing their independence from human domination: *"Do you know the time when the wild goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth? They bow themselves, they bear their young. They end their labor pains. Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again."* This passage humbles us, reminding us that while we may manage aspects of creation, we are not its masters—God is.
Let us pray together for wisdom and conviction to be placed upon those in authority over zoos, wildlife parks, and educational programs. May they seek ways to honor these creatures as God does, prioritizing their well-being over profit or spectacle. We also pray for the safety of handlers and the public, that they would recognize the boundaries God has set in nature and respect them.
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**Heavenly Father,**
We come before You with hearts burdened for the alligators and all creatures subjected to stress and unnatural conditions for human entertainment. Lord, You created each animal with purpose and intricacy, and You declared Your creation *"very good"* (Genesis 1:31). Yet in our fallen world, we often exploit what You have entrusted to us. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized convenience, profit, or amusement over the welfare of Your creatures.
We ask You to stir the hearts of those in positions of influence—zoo directors, handlers, educators, and lawmakers—to seek Your wisdom in how these animals are treated. Convict them where practices are harmful, and inspire creative solutions that honor the animals’ design while still achieving educational goals. Let no alligator suffer needlessly, and protect those who work with them from harm.
Father, we also pray for a culture that values Your creation as You do. Teach us to see these animals not as attractions but as testaments to Your creativity and power. May our interactions with them reflect Your mercy, and may we always remember that *"the earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it"* (Psalm 24:1).
We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came to restore all things to Your original intent. May His love and redemption extend even to how we care for the animals You have made. Amen.
