Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he has had in which all animals live together with no humans to oppress or control them. The animals embrace Major’s vision with enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting, three younger pigs—Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer—formulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism.
Eventually, the animals defeat farmer Jones in a battle. They renamed the property Animal Farm. The workhorse Boxer adopts the saying, “I will work harder” as his motto.
After a series of misfortunate events, Napoleon assumes leadership of Animal Farm and declares that there will be no more community meetings. From that point on, he asserts, the pigs alone will make all of the decisions—for the good of every animal.
With Napoleon’s leadership unquestioned, the workhorse Boxer has taken up a second motto, “Napoleon is always right.” Napoleon begins expanding his powers, rewriting history to make Snowball a villain. Napoleon also begins to act more and more like a human—sleeping in a bed, drinking whisky, and engaging in trade with neighboring farmers.
The original Animalist principles strictly forbade such activities, but Squealer, Napoleon’s propagandist, justifies every action to the other animals, convincing them that Napoleon is a great leader and is making things better for everyone—despite the fact that the common animals are cold, hungry, and overworked.
Years pass on Animal Farm. The pigs become more and more like humans—walking upright, carrying whips, and wearing clothes. Eventually, the Seven Commandments inscribed on the side of the barn, are reduced to one principle, namely, “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon also changes the name of Animal Farm back to the Manor Farm, claiming that this title is the “correct” one. Looking in at the party of elites through the farmhouse window, the common animals can no longer tell which are the pigs and which are the humans. [1]
In what ways are we seeing this story played out today?
While on this earth, our Lord Jesus Christ never required superior treatment. Instead, He taught and lived according to the principle that the greatest one among you is the one who serves.
Jesus is the rock that Daniel prophesied about. He seems a small rock compared to the mighty rulers of the world, but His kingdom eventually shatters their empires and becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth.
“While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” [2]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Son Jesus Christ into the world to show us how a servant of You leads. Thank You Father for promising to replace the corrupt kingdoms of this evil world with the righteous kingdom of Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord Jesus for interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. We trust in You. Even so, come Lord Jesus come!”
[1] Sparknotes.com
[2] Daniel 2:34-35
