We were watching a herd of elephants cross a river in Africa. Our guide—a lifetime observer of wildlife, their habitats and habits—was discussing the animals' freedom and innate ability to survive in the wilds. It appeared to him, he commented, that "if you take animals out of their natural habitat, put them in a foreign environment, and encourage them to reproduce, the progeny—their offspring—seem to lose their inherited immunity."
He was referring to capturing wildlife and transporting them to zoos or controlled commercial game parks. But what a parable that statement can offer for teaching a spiritual lesson! What of each of us and our inherited immunity?
The opening chapter of the Bible describes man's "natural habitat" —an environment entirely under the control of the one and only creator, God. Some of the specifics implied about this environment are (1) that everything about it is good—that is, unpolluted; there is no mention of evil in the first chapter of Genesis; (2) that this environment is in order—all things working together for good; (3) that it has an abundance of good, both in conception and in provision.
