Creation: Image bearers and stewards
Please read Genesis 1: 24 – Genesis 2: 25, and then pray; Creator God, our loving and faithful Father, may your Word always be our guide and our inspiration as we seek to serve you with integrity and joy, as those created in your image. We pray in the name of our Saviour Jesus. Amen!
In what ways have you personally interacted with and appreciated creation this week, and especially with the non-human environment around you? How have you interacted with animals, birds, insects, plants, flowers, and trees? I wonder if you ever take time to consider the importance of all living things? God loves all that He has made. Do we? God delights in every living thing. Do we? Try reading Psalm 104 this week and see the joy which God possesses for His creatures – creatures that have a relevance and a special place within the purposes of a God who delights and exults in the rich diversity of his creation. (Read Psalm 104: 10-25)
I believe that the two accounts of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 beautifully complement each other. The second account starting from Genesis 2:4, flows naturally on from the first account in Genesis 1: 1 – 2:3 which we considered last week. The first account is undoubtedly God-centred as it reveals God’s unlimited power in creating “the heavens and the earth” (1:1) in all their “vast array” (2:1) through the power of God’s word, and by which God’s glory is put on display. (Psalm 19:1)
Genesis 2 shifts the focus, and zooms in to take a closer look at man who God created “in his own image, male and female.” (1:27) Taken together, Genesis 1 and 2 reveal what is unique about man, but also what man has in common with the other “living creatures” that were also created on the same “sixth day.” (1: 24-25) Man does not get a day of his own! Man (men and women) were created on the sixth day along with all the other living creatures on the land!
The human species has a lot in common with the other living creatures with whom we share the planet which belongs to God. (Psalm 24:1) We are one among the many and various species of the earth. We do not own the earth but, by God’s grace, it is ours to live on and enjoy. But we share the space, the sacred soil under our feet, and under the Sovereign care of God the Creator. We are joint members within this great and diverse community of creation who occupy the land.
What else do we have in common with the other living creatures?
According to Genesis all were formed “out of the ground.” We share our earthly origins as human creatures with all life. In Genesis 2: 7 we discover that “the Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground”, and later in verse 19: “Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air.” Richard Bauckham in his wonderful book, Bible and Ecology writes;
“The earthiness of humans signifies a kinship with the Earth itself and with other earthly creatures, plants, and animals. Human life is embedded in the physical world with all that implies of dependence on the natural systems of life.”
It is not just that we live on earth but that we are of the earth. We are made and shaped from the dust of the earth by God, and it is ultimately to dust that we return along with other living things. The words shared at a funeral service, at the side of a grave – “ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” reflect our earthly/earthy reality. God’s words to Adam after the fall are relevant here; (Genesis 3:19) Psalm 90 which speaks of the everlasting God and the brevity of human life states: “You turn men back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust’, O sons of men.” And Psalm 103: 13-14 declares; “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
Another thing we humans have in common with other living creatures is that God has breathed into us all the “divine breath of life.” Genesis 2:7 again; “the Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. And from Genesis 1:30; “And to the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food. All creatures (ourselves included) are animated and sustained by the life-giving breath of God. Speaking of living creatures the Psalmist writes; “when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit (your breath), they are created and you renew the face of the earth. We all share the same God given “breath of life.”
We are all dependent on the same plant life to give us food – plants grown from the earth and which provide sustenance for all creatures – humans and animals. Not many creatures can live in a barren wasteland. We are all dependent on the rains that fall from heaven and all the fruits of the earth. We all derive our sustenance from the earth and its abundance.
Something else we have in share is the same command to multiply and fill the earth. God wants this good earth to be filled a rich diversity of living things. The famous word of command “be fruitful and multiply” is first given to all living creatures in the seas and skies (1:22) and then men and women made in the image of God. (1:28) There is to be an increase and a filling of the earth and its seas.
God also declares that all that he has made is good – indeed at day six, this changes to “very good” (1:31) and God will exercise goodness toward all His good creation. All creation will jointly bring glory to God and experience His goodness and care. As the Psalmist declares; “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.” (Psalm 145: 9-10) The whole of creation is one mighty choir giving praise to its Maker and Sustainer. Every creature counts and is included as a member of this choir. As the ancient Jewish text, Genesis Rabbah exclaims; “Even though you may think them superfluous in this world, creatures such as flies, bugs and gnats have their allotted task in the scheme of creation.” And as the hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote: “There’s not a plant or flower below but makes thy glories known … While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care.”
Having said all this – man has a unique place and position within creation. This is highlighted in Genesis 1:27, and then opened-up more fully in Genesis 2. Man is uniquely “made in the image of God” and is given the task to “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (1:28) Here we have the answer to the question “who or what is man?” (one made in God’s image) – and what it is that he was given the authority to do by God. (exercise responsible rule over creation under God)
Let us begin to unpack these two very significant ideas. Firstly, what does it mean for us to be “made in the image of God.” There is certainly both a moral and a relational side to this. Men and women can uniquely be in relationship with God their Creator, knowing, loving, and serving Him. We see this in the Garden, but this is what all Scripture reveals to be true. Men and women can enjoy a unique type of spiritual relationship and intimacy with God. The psalmist can speak of man “being made a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:5) The heavenly beings (the angels) have a unique relationship with God in heaven, but man “who is a little lower” can have a unique relationship with his Creator on earth. But man can also “be like” God morally – and exercise attributes such as love, care, compassion, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.
Much more could be said about how hundreds of theologians and philosophers have understood the meaning of Genesis 1:27. It probably also includes the ideas of having rationality, self-consciousness, the ability to choose, be artistically creative and inventive, as well as our proclivity to love others and to worship. It is a big concept, but in the context of Genesis 1 & 2 – relationship to God and our moral reflecting of God’s own beautiful character and being are especially emphasised.
Being made in God’s image therefore places man in a unique and special position within creation. We are not demi-gods. We are creatures, tiny creatures, but we are made in “the image and likeness” of God the Creator. God has bestowed special glory upon us. Human beings are unique and the bible clearly distinguishes us from all other creatures. As theologian Jonathan Moo puts it; “the image of God means being placed into a particular set of relationships with God, each other, and the rest of creation for the purpose of ruling as his royal representatives.”
This takes us on to what it means “to rule” and to have “dominion.” Here is where we need to tread with special care. Dominion over creation is no way refers to domination. It is not some kind of license to do whatever we want with creation, but rather it is a special call to responsible stewardship under God’s guiding, and caring hand. As the prophetic Christian apologist Francis Shaeffer wrote is his classic book “Pollution and the Death of Man,” “We are to exercise dominion over these things, not as though entitled to exploit them, but as things borrowed and held in trust …. Man’s dominion is under God’s Dominion, and in God’s Domain.”
Our Genesis context is so important. God, who takes immense care to create such wonderful and glorious diversity, plants, trees, and animals, does not then proceed to give human beings authority to exploit and destroy what He in love made. His image in us means we are to care as He cares, we are to protect and provide as God has protected and provided for us, and continues to do by His providential grace and power. We exercise care in the same way God does.
The invitation to rule over must be interpreted through the more focused and local context of a large Garden provided in Genesis 2:15 – where Adam is placed “to work it and take care of it.” The call is really to serve God through serving the world and all that is in it. The serving and caring will involve dedicated hard work, a desire to grow in knowledge and wisdom about the created order, and a recognition that man is accountable to God.
The words translated from the Hebrew “abad” and “shamar” (work and care) are also used in the context of priests serving in the tabernacle. (Numbers 3:7, 8:26) Just as the priests under God serve Him and the people, so Adam is called to serve and care for creation under God’s good hand. The verb “shamar” is used in the sense of “keeping watch over,” “guarding,” “preserving” and “protecting.” Remember the Aaronic blessing we shared earlier. The Lord bless you and keep (shamar) you: the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you: the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” As those who bear God’s image, our care and protection of the earth is thus a reflection of the care and protection that God shows us. Adam has a right to make a living from the soil but also a duty to care for it. Responsible and caring stewardship is our God-given mandate.
The challenge remains today, especially after the fall described in Genesis 3 which we will come to consider next week. What will you take away from today’s message from Genesis 1 & 2? Do these Scriptures cause us to think more carefully, perhaps even differently about how we personally approach the vital biblical subject of creation care? How should we manage our own gardens, our outside spaces, our allotments, which are a blessing to us and the other creatures who benefit from them? How will we all show real care and concern for all wildlife, which includes special domestic pets which we love so much. How will we view the gift of parks, woodlands, forests, rivers, streams, lakes, and countryside? How will we seek to play a part in encouraging the protection of wild-life sanctuaries for birds and animal species of various kinds. Can we join the fight to protect and preserve all specially designated habitats? How can we bless the work and efforts of conservationists and environmentalists, botanists and veterinarians, rangers, and farmers – all who care for the good land? Can we take time this week to especially bless the birds and bees, the flowers, and the trees? In His brilliant address at the World Day of Peace in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI said this;
The family needs a home, a fit environment in which to develop its proper relationships. For the human family, the home is the earth, the environment God the Creator has given us to inhabit with creativity and responsibility. We need to care for the environment: it has been entrusted to men and women to be protected and cultivated with responsible freedom, with the good of all as a constant guiding criterion.
Published in 1991 by the Board for Social Responsibility of the General Synod of the Church of England is this very important statement;
We all share and depend on the same world, with its finite and often non-renewable resources. Christians believe that the world belongs to God by creation, redemption, and sustenance, and that he has entrusted it to humankind, made in his image and responsible to him: we are in the position of stewards, tenants, curators, trustees, or guardians, whether or not we acknowledge this responsibility. Stewardship implies caring management, not selfish exploitation; it involves a concern for both present and future as well as self, and a recognition that the world we manage has an interest in its own survival and wellbeing independent of its value to us … Good stewardship requires justice, truthfulness, sensitivity, and compassion.
As we move forward in our future vision as a local Church, our LYCIG vision (Leading your Church into Growth) will be strengthened, supplement and broadened out by the 5 Marks of Mission. If you have not heard of these – here they are;
TELL – Proclaim the good news of the Kingdom!
TEACH – Nurture and teach new believers!
TEND – Respond to human need in loving service!
TRANSFORM – Seek to transform unjust structures of society!
TREASURE – Safeguard creation and sustain and renew the earth!
As part of “Treasure” – we aim to embrace the vision to be an Eco Church with the support of the brilliant Christian organisation “A Rocha.” arocha. org.uk
This can be an important part of our future mission together, and I am confident we can, along with other Churches make a difference and a very positive impact in the challenges we face to care for creation. We can build bridges with others who share our passion for the creation’s wellbeing and future, knowing that we work with and under the blessing of God our Creator and Sustainer. Exciting and challenging times!
Psalm 24:1 declares: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it: for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
Psalm 8: 3-9 shares these thoughts with us. Read.
Our help (in doing this) is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8) Amen.
(Revd Peter J Clarkson 9.3.25)