One of the great heroes of the bible is a man named Caleb. During the forty years of wandering in the desert, he remains confident in God’s promise even  as others falter. His loyalty and commitment do not waver.

It is any surprise, therefore, that the Hebrew word for our most loyal animal is almost identical to the name Caleb. It shares the same Hebrew letters, suggesting a parallel in meaning.

Dogs embody the loyalty and love taught by the biblical Caleb.

Bring Comfort in the Wake of Tragedy

I thought of these extraordinary qualities in reading about the aftermath of Sandy Hook massacre. As children returned to school on January 3rd, they were greeted by “therapy” dogs provided by Lutheran Church Charities.

According to news reports, several children who were very hesitant to return to school decided to go when they heard the dogs would be there. Several teachers also said the dogs helped them comfort the students.

Our Best Friend

How does this spiritual comfort work? Well consider the biblical verse inscribed on the collar of one of the dogs, whose name happens to be “Moses.” Quoting the qualities of character lauded in chapter 34 of the book of Exodus, his collar reads, “Merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth.”

Comfort can always come from man’s best friend.

By Evan Moffic

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