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Week 2 – Genesis 1-2: An Introduction to Us, Part 1

By: Matt Barnes

Print Week 2 Devotional


Introduction

The biblical mandate to care for God’s creation is clear from Genesis 1-2.

We see in Genesis 1.26-28 that we are created in God’s image. But what does that mean? Christians, Jews, and other interested people have given a variety of answers, including the ability to reason, the use of tools, communication, writing, creativity, etc., etc. However, each of these ideas can be used to exclude certain humans, which is certainly not a biblical idea!

Thus, it seems that the best way to think about being made in God’s image is that we are made to reflect God, represent God, and relate with God. Each of these ideas is inclusive of all humans, no matter age, ethnicity, gender, ability level, etc. Each of us reflects something about God to the world. Each of us can represent him in this world as well. And each of us is created with the innate ability to relate with God, even if that ability is only experienced between us and God himself.
Looking specifically at Genesis 1.26-28—being made in God’s image is connected with the idea of caring for creation. It is precisely because we, and only we, specially reflect God, represent God, and relate to God that we are commanded to care for creation. No other created thing or being can do so. We’re the only ones!

And we see an example of this immediately. The first human is placed in the garden in order to take care of it (Genesis 2.15), which is a reminder that work was not a result of sin but was part of the human experience from the very beginning. Also, the first human was allowed by God to name the other creatures (Genesis 2.19-20). In ancient Israel naming something or someone demonstrated authority, such as a father naming a son. Thus, in giving the first human the responsibility of naming the other creatures, God is granting humanity authority.

What might all of this mean for us today? We are presented with the way things were intended to be in Genesis 1-2. And part of that included caring for and having authority over the rest of creation. That mandate hasn’t gone away. Thanks to the politicizing of this Christian ethical imperative in today’s climate, many Christians have ignored or denied this mandate. This is unfortunate since doing so ignores God’s original intent! Brothers and sisters, let’s not leave this command undone! Let’s all our parts, separately and together.

“What I see in nature corresponds to what I read in God's Word: an Amazing Designer is the Source of all. This helps to strengthen my faith in God and my confidence in his Word.”

- Matthew Sanders, Science Educator

 

Bible Questions

  • Have you ever thought about caring for all that God has made as an act of discipleship before? Does this idea resonate with you? Why or why not?
  • In Genesis 1.26 the ideas of being made in the image of God and ruling over other created beings are connected to one another. Why do you think God inspired Moses to write it this way? How does being God’s image bearer impact the way we rule over other creatures?
  • God blesses humans and tells them to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth and subdue it in Genesis 1.28. In other words, God’s blessing of humanity extends beyond simply reproduction and includes our stewardship of creation. Is being a steward of God’s creation a blessing to you? Why or why not?
  • The issues with creation care sometimes feel much too large for any of us to solve by ourselves—and that’s probably true! But we can take small, faithful steps each day. What are some of those small steps you could take to begin or to continue caring about creation?

Discussion Questions

  • What does the fact that God granted us the authority to steward the rest of creation say about him? Does this fact make you more inclined to love and worship him? Why or why not?
  • Watch this short TED talk: https://youtu.be/2FMBSblpcrc. What does this video have to do with creation care? How could implementing what the presenter shared help us remember our mandate to steward creation well?
  • How do you think our witness in the world would be impacted if most of us followers of Jesus took our call to care for creation seriously?

Take Away

Commit to take a few small steps to care for creation. Save your bath water as it is heating up. Shop at secondhand shops and reuse and repair your things as often as possible. Or use your imagination and creativity to come up with other ways to obey God’s command to care for this world he’s placed us in! 

"When I learn something from physics, astronomy, or biology, I get to see more deeply the creativity, the love, and the intellect off the Creator. This in turn inspires me to worship."

- Wally Rippel, Research Engineer and Electric Car Pioneer