Are Puppies More Advanced Than Humans?

Most of us would agree that humans are more advanced than animals. As believers, in fact, we would agree that God made humans as the pinnacle of creation (Genesis 1:26-27). So it has always seemed strange to me that a baby animal is able to survive elements and conditions of which we would never dream of placing a baby human.

Jill and I once bought a puppy and named him Deacon (great name for a Pastor’s dog). Everything was great -until the yelping started. Just when we would begin drifting off to sleep… yelp… yelp… yelp…. For the first few nights we endured it. After all, who could be upset with a cute cuddly puppy?

But after our sweet little fur-ball  had yelped in the house for a few weeks, we placed him in the back yard. No big deal for a dog, right? But who would think of doing such a thing with a sweet, cuddly infant boy or girl?

Of course, puppies have another advantage over human babies: They learn to walk in a matter of weeks. We would consider that a miracle for a human child.

There’s no doubt about it. In the first few years of life, the human is incredibly more dependent than the animal. So is it strange that we still regard the human as being more “advanced?” Only if you believe that dependency is unconditionally a sign of immaturity.

While there is no doubt that we want our children to grow up to be independent in some regards (just think potty training), spiritual independence is not something to be celebrated.

In fact, Psalm 71:6 acknowledges, “Upon you I have leaned from before my birth.”

The Psalmist recognized that dependence is a blessing of God. Even before birth, a human baby is completely dependent for nurture, nutrition, and development.

The infant continues to be dependent for learning basic developmental skills. Of course, over time the child will mature physically and developmentally. Although there is never a time that we become “completely independent” (the air we breathe is a gift), there is a sense in which we become more independent in the physical/developmental arena.

So, why would God cause humans to develop slower than animals? Perhaps that’s what the Psalmist is driving at when he states, “Upon you I have leaned from before my birth.” In the preceding verse, the Psalmist explains “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth” (Psalm 71:4).

In other words, at the same time that the Psalmist had outgrown a certain level of physical dependency, he had acquired a greater level of spiritual dependency –and for this He was thankful!

Spiritual dependency is to be celebrated! Maybe that’s why God places humans in a much longer physical development process –so that we will learn dependency upon Him.

Wouldn’t it be great if we celebrated spiritual dependence as much as we champion physical independence? What if we cheered on humility as much as taking first steps? Can you imagine celebrating service to others as much as learning to tie shoes? And what would it be like if we couldn’t stop talking about self-sacrifice the way we announce a baby’s first words?

And what if we welcomed our “dependency moments” in adulthood? What if we viewed a failing memory as a reminder that God never forgets us -or regarding fatigue as a reminder that God is our strength?

Perhaps it would cause us to not only cherish the dependence of a child, but –even more- rejoice in our dependence upon God. Now that’s something to yelp about!