Dogs, Man's Best Friend, and the People of God

By Dan Baxley

www.yahshuaservant.com

sservant@yahshuaservant.com

Dogs are a loved animal among humans so much so it is a wonder they are mentioned so few times in the New Testament.  This beloved animal, the “dog”, when considered is not mentioned with kind and cuddly words of endearment. 

Dogs:

(Mat 7:6)  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

(Mat 15:26-27)  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

(Mar 7:27-28)  But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.  And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

(A Greek woman seeking aid for her daughter)

(Luke 16:21)  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

(Rev 22:15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  (Those left out of the Kingdom of God)

Dog:

(2Pe 2:22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (Peter quotes from the Holy Scriptures -Proverbs 26:11)

You can see from these few references Gentiles were compared to “dogs”, and even non-believers.  From these remarks we can see these references to this animal were not considered a compliment.  Man’s best friend?  This comparison of the verses reveals how Gentiles are compared the unclean, as a “dog”, and not meant to be a favorable comparison.  It is not a slam against the cute and lovable pets but against Gentiles, anyone not Jewish or Israeli, but there is also the inclusion of anyone rejecting the word of God, even the Jew, not accepting the pearls of value when it comes to our Lord and Savior, YaHshua.  Also, not to be left out are those once having gained and accepted the turth turn from this treasure as a dog returning to its vomit.  Even then it is not so much an insult as a truth. 

We Gentiles, before coming to the Christ, lived, for the most part, without restrictions and did adopt life styles not unlike unclean animals, of little or no moral values.  Once called into the Kingdom, however, Gentiles are no longer the “unclean” animal such as the dog or the swine, they once were.  This, however, had to be learned by the prejudiced Christian Jews, such as the Apostle, and those first Jewish converts.  Notice, even our Savior is quoted in the previous verses above, making a racial slur (as we would see it today) concerning the Samaritan woman.  It is much later Peter is permitted, instructed, driven, to accept Gentiles into the congregation (Acts 11:2-4) and had to give an account of his actions before the council of Jewish Elders at Jerusalem. The brethren were not happy about it but concede Peter had been shown what he must do and the signs were all there, they could not deny this and so, accepted Peter's excuse for fratanizing with the Gentile dogs.  Still, Peter, himself, had a problem with this and we later see when Paul was called up and it is Paul, not Peter that becomes the Apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7-8; 2:14, Rom 11:13, 2 Tim 1:11). 

 I know, and some of you thought Peter was the Apostle to the Gentiles, after all, isn't that what the Catholic Church teaches?  And, sadly, many others have accepted false teaching.  Peter may have been the first to baptize gentiles into the body of the Christ but he and the others were not inclined to do much in this area.  Paul was called up because of the failure of the original Apostles, all Hebrews, inability to overcome their predjudices.  They were only too happy to let Paul take on this task.  There is even an anti Paul (Saul) flavor to the few meetings Paul has with the Jewish Elders at Jerusalem.  Even Paul voices an opinion not too flattering of the Council at Jerusalem.

(Gal 2:9) James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

   The Israelis, for the most part, are not pure themselves, in the flesh and the blood, and those thinking otherwise, do fool themselves.  The fact is, those of pure Israeli blood are known only to their Creator -- our Creator.  Yes, I know the religious Jews of Jerusalem have it all figured out and are preparing a certain number of young boys to be future priest in preparation for the day the 3rd Temple is built, but they are guessing, educated guessing but guessing none the less. 

  Going back to when the Children of Israel, under Moses who had married and had children by a Median woman, who is to know how many other Israeli men had mattied outside of their blood line, how many Egyptian wives? We know of Joseph with two sons both becoming two of the tribes of Israel, Ephraim and Manessa.  We certainly see a mixing of races taking place before the Israelites ever left their 450 year service to Egypt. 

  Some of the non-Israelis living in the Canaanite regions (Land of Israel) were also adopted into Israel as part of its population.  One very good example of this is the story of Caleb and Joshua (YaHshua) and how the inheritance of the land was distributed – Joshua 14 and in verse 14 we see one of the heroes, Caleb (Kaleb), not an Israelite but a Kenezite, and not of any of the tribes of Israel, is given a portion found among the tribes of Judah.  So, how many Jews are Kenezites, or have they totally assimilated? 

   What we see, however, is that Caleb and his family, 40 years earlier (Num 32:12) were obviously joined with Israel upon her first attempt to enter the land of the Canaanites and was part of the scouting party sent out  along with Joshua and on their return were the only two of the scouting party to declare they could take the land by the power of YHWH, while the other scouts, in fear, convinced the people it would be suicide – from this point Israel returns to the desert as wanders until that generation dies off.  At teh end of the fourty years only Caleb and Joshua and their families from that generation are still alive, survivors of that rebellious generation, only they are allowed to enter the “promised land” with the new generation of Israel.  Caleb exhibited the same faith as Joshua even though He was not an Israelite but a Kenezite.  Caleb, the Kenezite, is given a portion among the tribe of Judah and there is no reason to think his decendtants are not still part of Judah (Jos 14:14-15; Jos 15:13, 1 Ch 6:55:56; Judges 1:20)

   Caleb is not the only non-Israeli, as mentioned before, Ephraim and Manasseh, half Egyptian, half Israeli, and there would to be others -- Any free Gentile willing to live among the Nation of Israel and to abide by the Laws and the Festivals and honor YHWH as an Israelite is bound to do then these non-Israelis were granted equal citizenship.  This did not include slaves or servants but free men and women.  The people of Israel are from a mixture of diverse peoples.  This is not to say there is not a pure line somewhere, but even in the fleshly line of our Savior a Moabite woman is found and presented in the lineage of King David.  Only our Creator can know who the pure-bloods are, or can decide who they will be.  We read in the book of Revelation He is going to select 12,000 from each tribe -- the 144,000 and it is only He that has knowledge of them when that time comes.   

     In the times of our Savior lines had been drawn and people outside of the Jewish influence, Gentiles, were considered no better than “dogs”, unclean animals easily swayed from one master to another.  There was a high degree of prejudice among those considering themselves as pure bloods.  Peter, a fisherman of no particular degree, demonstrates his prejudice in Gal 2:14, where he suffers a scolding from Paul for being two faced when it came to those “dogs” the Gentiles. 

    Some in Jewish circles have this prejudices still to this day, seeing the Gentiles, the goyim, as unclean animals, like “dogs”, when in fact, they too are from dubious origins. Some of these very religious men and women may not have a speck of Israeli blood coursing their veins at all.

 88888

    What is unusual, at least to me, is this discrimination, while obvious and apparent within the New Testament writings, the Hebrew Scriptures does not make such a direct connection -- the Scriptures are not prejudice at all, when you look closely, it is the people claiming the Holy Book as theirs that have this superior feeling or attitude, and it seem we see how far this personal attitude has evolved plainly in the New Testament and the need to correct it. In fact the “dog”, used so derogatorily in the NT is seen as a useful animal in the OT as we see in this verse –

(Exo 22:31)  You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

   This is part of the instructions delivered to the people of Israel as a way to live and act.  In this case the only reason given is that they, Israel, are His holy people (Deut 14:2), so the animal fallen victim to wild animal attack is to be thrown it to the dogs.  This demonstrates “dogs” were present among the Israelites, and the Jews and they could be used for the disposal of things the “holy people” were not to eat. 

    Dogs are mentioned as scavengers and it is the lowest of insults to be cursed with the threat of “dogs eating your remains or licking up your blood just as we see in these verses – I Ki 14:11; 16:14; 21:11, 19, 23, 24; 2Ki 9:10, 36.

    Dogs had their use as we read in the book of Job –

(Job 30:1)  But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

By this verse we can see dogs were used for working sheep, a work animal.  It would seem that dogs were used then as we do now, but in Israel to be called a “dog” or compared to a dog is an insult or to be insulted as you will see in these verses -- 1Sa_17:43; 1Sa_24:14; 2Sa_3:8; 2Sa_9:8; 2Sa_16:9; 2Ki_8:13;  Isa_66:3.

   While we do not see “dogs” as pets we would assume, from the sheer fact dogs were present, there would have been some fondness between the animal and humans, Israelites or not.  Also, the mention of “sheep dogs” demonstrates a working relationship too. 

   It is only natural the degrading insult of being called a dog, a “dirty dog”, would be applied to the Gentiles surrounding the people of Israel, after all, the things they were not to eat were thrown to the “dogs” and the Gentiles, like scavengers, eating everything and anything, clean or unclean, did not seem to matter to the Gentile. The people “holy to YHWH” have restrictions and as it turns out, to the benefit of their physical health.  But we see these special people called out from among the nations were not all that pure themselves (Isa 66:17). 

    For those Jews that see the goyim as unclean animals, no difference between goyim and dogs they should be reminded, the people of Judah and their forefathers were compared to “lion cubs” and a “lioness” and this animal, while considered regal, is an unclean animal and a scavenger no different than a “dog”.  Next the “remnant of Jacob”, which is the people of Israel, those other than of Judah, are also compared to the unclean lion among other “beasts”, among even flocks of sheep. 

(Gen 49:9)  You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him?

(Mic 5:8)  The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.

   Isn’t this interesting, the remnant of Jacob (Israel) will be found among nations (the goyim) and is seen as very dangerous, mauling and mangling “as it goes”.  You will notice, of the beasts compared to nations, one of the beasts is a “sheep”, not just sheep but “flocks of sheep”.  Isn’t it interesting that our Savior, YaHshua, calls the “lost house of Israel” the “lost sheep” (Mat 10:6)?  We could say, then, that the remnant of Jacob (Israel) is its own worst enemy setting itself against those called "sheep", those having accepted YaHshua as Messiah?  We could, then, understand, from Micah 5, that not all Gentile nations are considered as unclean animals, being compared to “flocks of sheep” among the “beasts of the forest”.  The, the descendants of Jacob, living as lions among other beasts, some of whom are sheep, innocent, clean flocks.

    Another consideration is our Savior, YaHshua, compares Himself to the shepherd of the sheep, those that hear His voice (Mt 26:31; John 10:2-6).  We are His sheep and He is our Shepard.  We can make all kinds of thing out of these verses but to what purpose?  From what I can see, both Jews and Gentiles are referred to as unclean animals (dogs and lions) and how Jews and Gentiles are also referred to as the “lost sheep, Israel” and also there are sheep of YaHshua and He their Shepherd.  Keep in mind, all Jews are of Israel but not all Israelites are Jews. The Jews comprise three tribes, Judah, Levi, and Benjamin and there are also the Kenezites through Caleb but the Israelites “lost” would be the other Ten, the house of Jacob, mixed through the other nations as are the Jews but not so identifiable and in fact, most, if not all have forgotten their origins.  Our Savior knows who they are and at His return the full curtain will be drawn back on many of these issues and settled once and for all.  

Dogs, live Dogs and Dead Lions

We are all no better than dogs and when compared to the regal and fierce lion the live dog is better than the dead lion.

(Ecc 9:4)  Anyone who is among the living has hope--even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

We do not see any loving remarks made concerning dogs and cats as pets but in some archaeological digs and in some stone works and in among the remains of ancient Egypt evidence shows these animals were not always treated as wild beasts but as pets and some revered even as gods. 

   Certainly, the breeding practices of modern man, has produced a different kind of dog than found among the ancient peoples and, what seems to be a countless number of breeds in varying temperaments and for different uses, many of which are beneficial to man.  There is nothing in Scripture covering this in an exact and straight forward warning against dogs as pets.  I cannot help thinking, however, when the “wrath” of Revelation 6:12-17 occurs where will the dogs go?  When humans are stressed to the extreme and a rebuilding processes begins and the drive for survival after millions have died, where will the “dog” or the pet “cat” be in the scheme of things?  I’m guessing they may become food for the desperate and in many cases the dead will become food for the pet animals in their natural bide to survive.  Not a pleasant thought, I know, but just give it some thought. 

   Cesar Millan of “Dog Whisper” fame, puts it best and should be remembered, “A dog is a dog, a pack animal, and not a person”.  Dogs can be controlled and can be faithful and a wonderful companion but in a time of great trouble they may be more of a hindrance, more of threat than “man’s best friend.”

Some street critics might say, "I wouldn't have a god that hates my dog and has plans to put this world in ruin", or something similar, and I have heard such sentiments expressed when attempting to reveal, or warn, of the coming calamities, not the pie in the sky doctrines being preached today.  The bottom line is, your opinion concerning our "Creator" does not matter.  You don't like it and you want to question or deny Him?  You are free to do that but your rejection does not change a thing.  Being blind to the idea this world changes and is not stationary may be what you want to believe but even if our Creator decided to not interfere in the affairs of this world we would all perish.  The scientific prophecy for this earth is filled with doom -- the sun is burning out, there is a mess of asteroids prowling earth's neighborhood, threating planet annihilation, not to mention fly by (so far) comets just burning to hit us and this is to ignore man's ability to destroy humanity without the help of alien visitors.  What we need is His interference if humanity has any hope of surviving.  At least half of the populations on this earth need to be delivered from poverty and religions suppressing and abusing whole populations.  No, we need Yahshua to come and save us spiritually as well as physically -- putting an end to war and starvation -- but first we need to be awakened and He is going to send us a "wakeup call", the alarm is set and ready to go off.    

   Address any comments to --

servant@yahshuaservant.com

www.yahshuaservant.com