{"id":7922,"date":"2018-09-08T16:27:57","date_gmt":"2018-09-08T16:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=7922"},"modified":"2018-09-08T16:27:57","modified_gmt":"2018-09-08T16:27:57","slug":"destroying-or-sustaining-ancestral-knowledge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/destroying-or-sustaining-ancestral-knowledge\/","title":{"rendered":"Destroying or Sustaining Ancestral Knowledge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently I read an article<\/a> concerning Bighorn sheep and Moose, the study said that both Bighorn sheep and Moose learn to migrate from one another.\u00a0 When they die, that generational or ancestral knowledge is lost.\u00a0 The article goes on to describe how in the 1800s there were many Bighorn sheep where stories describe over 1000 sheep could be readily seen on the mountains in Wyoming.\u00a0 The bighorns population were decreased by disease and hunters.\u00a0 By the year 1900, the species numbered in the low thousands as compared to the millions in the past.\u00a0 In the 1940s, the Wyoming Game and Fish department began trying to move bighorns back into their historic habitats.\u00a0 They say these efforts have been successful at restoring the herds, but not to their previous numbers.\u00a0 With the restoration of the herds, their bodies (numbers) have returned, but their knowledge has died in relation to their original migratory patterns.\u00a0 It is said that in the beginning, these herds of Bighorn sheep would migrate for miles and miles along the mountains in the early spring as new plants and foliage began to grow as they moved north.\u00a0 They would learn the best routs from previous generations.\u00a0 The article quotes saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe translocated animals were literally let out of a livestock trailer and started looking around at their new environment,\u201d says Matthew Kauffman from the University of Wyoming. \u201cAnd they almost entirely failed to migrate.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Researchers know this because the animals were fitted with radio collars in order to track their movements.\u00a0 The study showed that those herds in their natural locations (where they grew up) between 65 to 100 percent migrated.\u00a0 Those herds that were transplanted, less than 9 percent migrated.\u00a0 They also used satellite images during the growing season to track how the Bighorn sheep tracked the emerging plants in the spring time.\u00a0 They found the transplanted herds failed to track the greenery as well as the older herds. The conclusions on ancestral knowledge that is passed down, the article states:<\/p>\n

That knowledge allows the animals to find plants early, when they\u2019re young, tender, and more easily digested. And by eating high-quality plants, they can more easily pack on the fat and protein that gets them through harsh winters. \u201cWhen they lose that knowledge, their populations will suffer,\u201d Jesmer says.<\/p>\n

Wildlife conservation isn\u2019t just about raising the numbers on a population count. It\u2019s also an act of cultural preservation. When rangers stop poachers from killing an elephant matriarch<\/a>, they\u2019re also saving her memories. When conservationists preserve routes over which bighorn sheep can travel, they\u2019re keeping the animals\u2019 traditional knowledge alive for future generations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The article states that cultural losses are more difficult to see than the disappearing habitats or even declining populations. The article goes on to describe how conservationists having recognized these problems, have tried to modify the environment in order to help the species, such as modifying fences, creating overpasses, and minimize construction, housing, and development along the migration pathways.<\/p>\n

What is interesting is how this study provides us with a significant insight into the biblical and rabbinic life, and especially for the application of God’s Word to our lives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is important to note how cultural losses are more difficult to observe for these animals.\u00a0 For modern societies, this might also be true too.\u00a0 The idea of creating fences to help was the underlying principle the Sages took to make “protective fences”<\/span><\/em> to the Torah.\u00a0 The rabbinic concept was that this was part and parcel of the Torah, and was not considered extra. (The Sages do however specify that their fences are rabbinic in nature, to avoid confusion with the written Torah law.<\/em>)\u00a0 One well known example is related to what the Torah states, “Do not boil a kid in it’s mother’s milk.”<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 On a Torah level, this only refers to meat from the three domesticated animals, a cow, a goat, and a sheep.\u00a0 However, since people “intuitively”<\/span><\/em> associate chicken as “meat,”<\/span> one also does not mix chicken and milk.\u00a0 This “rabbinic fence”<\/span><\/em> was accepted by the entire Jewish people as binding law. If we are able to appreciate the severity of transgressing the Torah (a sensitivity which has, unfortunately, been lost to many people today<\/span><\/em>), similar to the significance of what is happening with the ancestral knowledge of Bighorn sheep, then we can understand why these kinds of fences were considered vital to the rabbis.<\/p>\n

I believe what these things teach us is in regards to the high calling that we have as the people of God, and for shaping our children to know the Lord God in heaven, His Messiah Yeshua, and loving others.\u00a0 These things are illustrated in Solomon’s words calling out to his son to know wisdom, and instructing us to raise our children to know the Lord, according to the book of Proverbs.<\/p>\n

\n

Mishley \/ Proverbs 1:5-16<\/strong>
\n1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 1:6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 1:9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 1:11 If they say, \u2018Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 1:12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 1:13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 1:14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,\u2019 1:15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 1:16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. (NASB)<\/p>\n

Mishley \/ Proverbs 22:6<\/strong>
\n22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (NASB, \u05d5 \u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b9\u05da\u05b0<\/strong> \u05dc\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e4\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d3\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d2\u05bc\u05b7\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05e7\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d9\u05b8\u05e1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Something to note from the Hebrew verb translated \u201ctrain,\u201d<\/em><\/span> this word occurs three other times in the Bible. In each of these cases the word refers to \u201cdedicating\u201d<\/span><\/em> houses, whether of a man (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 20:5<\/span><\/em>, \u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b9\u05d8\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05ea-\u05d7\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b8\u05db\u05d5\u05b9<\/strong> \u05d9\u05b5\u05dc\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05d1 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e4\u05bc\u05b6\u05df-\u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05d5\u05bc\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc) or of God (1 Kings 8:63<\/span><\/em> \u05e1\u05d2 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05de\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d6\u05b6\u05d1\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d6\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05d7 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e6\u05b9\u05d0\u05df \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05bc<\/strong> \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc,\u00a0 2 Chronicles 7:5<\/span><\/em> \u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05de\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d6\u05b6\u05d1\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e6\u05b9\u05d0\u05df \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05bc<\/strong> \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd).<\/p>\n

As we saw in the Scientific study on the migration patterns of Bighorn sheep and the lost of ancestral knowledge, we as parents are called to actively devote or commit our children to a well defined path to knowing God.\u00a0 This course of action includes reading God’s Words to them and living our faith in love before God and in the manner in which we are to sacrificially love others.\u00a0 We are to help our children to understand the importance of living our lives for the glory of God because of His saving power and the great worth worth of drawing near to Him.\u00a0 The concept of “to train”<\/span><\/em> illustrates the importance of consecrating our lives to moral and ethical living for God’s Glory and for His name.\u00a0 Just as these species transmitted their migratory knowledge for the health of the children, we too have the responsibility to pass on to our children the knowledge of God, and to direct our children towards the Lord God Almighty in mercy, and truth, and righteousness.\u00a0 What we learn here from the animal kingdom, just as we learn in Mishley \/ Proverbs 22:6<\/span><\/em>, that we are to have intentional, sustained, and God dependent shepherding of our children as they grow in the Lord to adulthood.\u00a0 This is not just a passive calling for parents.\u00a0 We are to be active, intentional, and continually glorifying the Lord, and this is one of the ways that we do so for the spiritual health and life not just of our children, but also of our communities! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently I read an article concerning Bighorn sheep and Moose, the study said that both Bighorn sheep and Moose learn to migrate from one another.\u00a0 When they die, that generational or ancestral knowledge is lost.\u00a0 The article goes on to describe how in the 1800s there were many Bighorn sheep where stories describe over 1000 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7922","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-science-and-spirituality"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7922\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}