Long, long ago, when the world was fresh and unspoiled, God shaped the earth with His hands. He carved the winding rivers and stretched the green forests across the land. He planted trees whose leaves whispered in the wind and covered the ground with soft grass. He filled the waters with fish, the earth with beasts, and finally, He made man.
When His creation was complete, God called together all living creatures—both man and beast, to a single place. His voice rolled across the land, firm and gentle, like thunder softened by the rain.
“Tomorrow,” He said, “I will give each of you your gifts. Watch the sky for the morning star. When it appears, come to me. Listen also for the cock’s crow. When you hear it, come.”
The animals bowed their heads. Man, too, listened carefully, and then they all departed to wait for the morning.
But among them was one creature God loved above the rest: the buffalo. God drew the buffalo close and whispered, “Come to me before the morning star rises. Come before the cock crows. If you arrive first, I will grant you the greatest gift of all.”
Unbeknownst to God and the buffalo, the dog was lurking in the shadows of the trees. He pricked his ears and heard every word. Swift as wind, he ran to the man and spoke in a hushed, urgent voice.
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“Listen, my friend,” the dog said. “Tomorrow, do not wait for the morning star, and do not wait for the cock’s crow. Go before all others. Tell God you are the buffalo, and He will give you the best gift.”
At dawn, before even the faintest glow touched the sky, the man rose. He stretched an animal skin across his back and crawled on hands and feet so that he might look like the buffalo. When he reached God, he bowed low.
“Who are you?” God asked.
“I am the buffalo,” the man replied. “Is there a gift for me?”
“You are the first,” God said. “And the best gift belongs to the first.”
Then He placed in the man’s hands a shining spear. Its weight carried power, and its point promised dominion.
“Are you content now?” God asked.
But greed stirred in the man’s heart. “No,” he said. “I am not content. Give me all the spears.”
So God, in His patience, gave every spear to the man. Grasping them with triumph, the man hurried away.
Not long after, the buffalo arrived. He strode with strength and dignity before God.
“Who are you?” asked God.
“I am the buffalo,” the buffalo answered.
“Then who was it that came earlier?” God’s eyes grew stern.
“It was the man,” said the buffalo bitterly. “The foster child of the dog.”
“You are late!” thundered God. “Why did you not come when I called? The man came first, so the spears were his. For you, there are only horns.”
And so it was. God gave the buffalo horns, and to all cattle as well. To the lion and the leopard He gave claws and sharp noses, so they might tear and smell their enemies. But to man, He gave the spears, all of them, and thus man became master over every beast of the earth.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that cunning and timing can shape destiny, but it also warns of the dangers of greed and betrayal. Man gained mastery over animals not by strength, but by deception, aided by the dog’s trickery. Yet his demand for “all the spears” revealed a restless heart, never satisfied. True leadership lies not only in power, but in responsibility, fairness, and restraint.
The story also reflects the balance of gifts in creation. Each creature was given something, horns, claws, speed, or weapons. Power alone does not make one greater; it is how that power is used that matters most.
Knowledge Check
1. Who did God originally intend to give the best gift to?
The buffalo, whom God loved above all animals.
2. What role did the dog play in the story?
The dog overheard God’s secret promise and tricked the man into pretending to be the buffalo.
3. What gift did man receive by arriving first?
He received a spear, and later demanded all the spears for himself.
4. What did the buffalo receive instead of spears?
The buffalo, along with all cattle, received horns.
5. Which animals were given claws and strong noses?
The lion and the leopard were given claws and keen noses to sense their enemies.
6. What key lesson does this folktale teach?
That cunning can bring power, but greed and deceit carry lasting consequences, while every being has unique gifts.
Source: Anuak folktale, Ethiopia (Gambela region).
