Genesis 1:24-31

Correlation of Days:

1st Set of 3 Days: 2nd Set of 3 Days:

- Day 1: Day & Night/ Day 4: Sun & Moon

- Day 2: Sky & Water / Day 5: Birds & Marine Life

- Day 3: Land & Sea/ Day 6: Animals & Man

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

The final day of creation is the most significant of them all - with the creative acts being divided into 2 groups:

Animals and Humans

There is more detail given to the creative events of the 6th day than to the previous five.

25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

First, verse 25 groups all land dwelling animals into 3 broad categories:

Beasts - Lions, Antelopes, Hippos, Dinosaurs

Creeping Things - Mice , Spiders, Lizards, Beetles

Livestock - Cattle, Horses, Goats , Camels

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

There are those who believe that the “us ” mentioned here in verse 26 may refer to members of the Heavenly court, such as angels or the “Sons of God” mentioned in the Book of Job.

However, a significant objection to this belief is that man is not made in the image of the angels , nor is there biblical cause to believe that angels had any part in the creation of man .

It is my belief that we see God speaking to Himself in verse 26 giving us our first view of the Trinity . [Three in One]

John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Verses 26-27 tell us that we are reflections of the Glory of God. We reflect His image and have the ability to possess his eternal character : Love, Patience, Forgiveness, Kindness and Faithfulness.

And knowing this should provides us with our basis of self-worth .

Earthly worth is fleeting and based upon what you do …but your real value and worth is based upon who you are .

You are a bearer of God’s image . A direct result of the handywork of the God of the Universe.

To criticize yourself is to criticize the work of the One that made you…the abilities He has given you!

In ancient civilizations a king was often considered the visible representative of a god… Thus the king ruled on behalf of the god and this same line of ideology is given to us here in verse 26-28...

The image of God is linked with man's dominion over all the other creatures of the sea, heavens, and earth. On the 6th day... God created man and endowed him with the authority to rule over the earth as God's representative

God has set us apart from the rest of His creation... We resemble our Creator in many characteristics... such as reason, morality, language, creativity, and a capacity for relationship governed by love and commitment [from marriage to society]

And all of these characteristics allow mankind to represent God in ruling the creation that he has given us

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Be fruitful and multiply is a theme that recurs throughout the Book of Genesis and serves as the basis of the biblical view that raising faithful children is a part of God's plan for mankind

God's intention was and always has been that the earth would be populated by those who know him and who serve him as his representatives….

We are to steward his creation wisely with the same responsibility and care and we are to multiply and raise families who love Jesus

That there would be a day that God would call a people unto himself... That he would be their God... and they would be his people

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

God is rightfully depicted as man's benevolent provider ... Who ensures food and sustenance to both man and animal without fear of competition, threat of survival, or concern about health….

God had given his creation everything that they needed in order to thrive on planet earth…

In Babylonian belief, man's job was to alleviate the burden of the gods and provide food for their sustenance… However, the true Creator sought to serve us, to love us and to provide for those He loved most!

How great is Our God!