I had given up on this blog due to, what I thought, was a lack of interest. I appreciate Landon, Carrie and Tabitha for encouraging me to take it up again. So, here is the deal. I’ll try to post a couple times a week and you react and we’ll try to make a go of it.
Let's go back one more time to Chapter one. In Gen 1:28f we are told that God has created mankind in His own image. This is of obvious importance. But what does it mean? Most commentaries undertake discussions of God’s nature and how it is reflected in man. Such characteristics as self-awareness, emotion and will are the things emphasized. Without disputing that, it seems to me that the context takes us in a different direction. In the days of creation God took what He had made and acted as an artist shaping and improving the world. He divides, separates, evaluates and names. In brief, God is exercising dominion over creation. Mankind is to take up where God leaves off. He is to image His creator by exercising dominion over creation. We take hold of the world’s native resources. We divide, shape, rework, evaluate and name what we do. This gives tremendous dignity to virtually every human action. We also see that God is fruitful, in that he fills the world with living things. We image God, by being fruitful and multiplying.
Any thoughts?
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ReplyDeleteBeing made in the God's image is a difficult idea for many of us to understand. We normally relate this concept to the psychological connections we share with Him. You bring up an interesting point in that we are also like God due to our ability to "divide , shape, rework, evaluate and name what we do". It's great to realize that the power God showed during his six days of creation has, although on a much smaller scale, been given to us as well. Knowing that God's creation was done with wisdom and love should make us want to divide, shape, and rework with the same mindset.
ReplyDeleteThis verse was hard for me to understand because I have always thought of it as if we are made in his image then why are there things in life that we can't comprehend or even imagine, why can't we love our enemies, be completely selfless and why do we not have the self control like Jesus had not to sin. Its make a lot more sense simply saying create because God created us, the earth, and everything in it and he has given you the resources to do so and do it to the best of your ability because you want to glorify God.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder...what does God mean, in His image? If he made man in his image, does that mean woman is as well? Did he mean both man AND woman? Did Adam LOOK like God? And furthermore, did Jesus look like God?
ReplyDeleteBesides that, if we are made in God's image, so many of our feelings and thoughts must already reflect God. This makes me think of how David was a man after God's own heart. Yet he was a sinner. I feel like all of this is related, but I'm never completely sure how.I believe you are right that it is our job to multiply and be fruitful--continue God's work, in a sense, by having children and creating more people to be lights in the world and be as close as possible to how God meant for us to be and act--like Him, in His image.