"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm." Jer. 2:7:5.
The buffalo or, more correctly, the bison shares with the moose the distinction of being the two heaviest land animals of North America. The buffalo is from nine to twelve feet long and as tall as a man from the ground to the top of its hump. Some bulls weigh nearly a ton, but cows are smaller. They are strong and tough and can live through storms that kill other beasts. They are also great runners—up to 30 miles an hour for long distances.
When Indians were the only people west of the Mississippi, there were millions of bison forming herds, often as far as the eye could see on the prairies of mid-America, all the way from Mexico up into Canada. For the Indians this was a principal food, and they made wigwams, blankets, clothing and other things from the hides. God provided plenty of grass and water, and even though the Indians killed many it did not make much difference as so many calves were born every year that their numbers just kept on growing.
But as white people moved west after the Revolutionary War, it became a different story. It is easy to understand that the settlers, like the Indians, found buffalo a good source of food and hides, but as they settled the land they not only used them for these purposes, but determined to get them off the land they wanted to farm. As a result many thousands were killed just to get rid of them.
Hunters from the eastern part of the country also, and "sportsmen," even from Europe, went west with their guns, thinking it was great sport to see how many they could kill, without even caring about the meat or hides. When railroads reached that part of the country, some hunters shot the beasts from moving trains. All this leaves a sad picture of that part of America's history. The result of all this was that, just 100 years ago, instead of millions of buffalo, there were only about a thousand left in the United States and Canada combined.
Bison are part of God's creation, and He surely had the Indian people in His thoughts in preparing such an abundant supply to meet their needs. Many people today are sad and ashamed to think of the way bison were deliberately killed. He, of whom it is said, "I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine," (Psa. 50:1111I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. (Psalm 50:11)), must have been displeased to see this cruelty and waste. However, we can be happy to know that His watchful eye and care are over those bison that are flourishing again, as we will discuss in the next issue.
The American Buffalo (Bison)
When people, nearly 100 years ago, worried about the disappearance of bison from America they persuaded the governments of Canada and the United States to set up protective areas, such as Yellowstone National Park and Custer State Park, throughout the West. Others thought it would be profitable to raise them like cattle and take care of them in protected areas.
These good actions resulted in a gradual increase in the number of these animals so that now there are about 30,000 of them in parks and preserves like the National Bison Range in Montana where large herds now prosper.
Both bulls and cows have horns and shoulder humps. They are impressive with their shaggy, bearded heads and sharp, curved horns. When herds are threatened in any way, the males huddle together to form a ring around cows and calves, providing good defense. God, their Creator, gave them this instinct. In winter thick, heavy hair grows over the back part of their bodies. This drops off in springtime, sometimes hanging in loose patches until the animal rubs it off against a tree or big rock. They don't look too attractive during this period.
Calves, weighing about 30 pounds, are born in early summer and can stand up and nurse in half an hour. When they are about six weeks old they change their diet from milk to grass, which becomes their entire food supply along with leaves from certain trees for the rest of their lives. They do most of their grazing in the morning with the afternoon being a time of resting and rolling in the dust to get rid of insects.
When angry, bulls charge one another, coming together slowly with heads down, feet pawing the ground, and tails up in the air, while blowing volumes of air from their nostrils and raising clouds of dust—making a very scary sight. Suddenly they slam their heads together, pushing each other back and forth until one finally gives up. When the fight is over they walk peacefully away.
The Bible tells us God cares for the beasts of the field. But He cares much more for people on earth who, when He created them, were made in His likeness and for whom He has always shown His love. The greatest proof of His love was at the cross of Calvary where "He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
Until the Savior comes to call those who love Him into heaven, His invitation to you to accept Him as your own Savior stands open. However, once believers are called up to heaven it will be too late for any who are left behind to accept His invitation. Will you be called up to heaven, or will you be left behind to face the punishment for your sins?