Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (Genesis 1:24-31)
When I read the Genesis narrative, I am reminded of our first baby and all the preparations my wife and I made. First, we had to choose which room would be the baby’s. Then we put up wallpaper and decorated the walls with paintings and pictures. We needed a crib, and of course, a mobile to place over it. There were curtains to match, and cute little baby blankets.
The last thing we did was buy her some toys. I think that is where God is one day six. The earth is all made, and he has decorated it with flowers and vegetation. There are birds in the sky, as well as fish and water animals to gaze at.
Now God creates something man can actually play with. (The Bible tells us that animals did not fear man until after the flood in Genesis 9:2.) Cats and dogs, and elephants and dinosaurs. Lions and polar bears, seals and walruses. He brings all of them to Adam and sees what he will call them. There is still enough kid in me to wish I could experience that, and maybe one day I will in the new heaven and earth.
The final thing God creates is man, and he is made in God’s own image. The magnitude of this statement is immense, as is evident by the many sermons and books on the topic.
He then gives him purpose. He is to rule over all the creatures God made, and be fruitful and multiply. This is why man was designed.
One of the things I find compelling about the Bible is how accurate it is. We were created to have children (to be fruitful and multiply). Even though other things might seem important, people always find purpose and meaning in family.
Ruling, or having dominion over the earth, is the calling of man. We are not only to care for it, but also study it and understand it. We were created to learn and gain knowledge, to build and construct, to write and create. All these things are embodied in the command to rule over the earth.
Finally, he shows man the menu. He can eat every seed-bearing plant and every fruit that has seeds on the whole earth.
Creation is now complete, and God looks around and declares it more than good; it is very good. I would agree.