Care of the World

1)    Creation is God’s

2)    Creation is good, God delights in it, and cares for it,

3)    Creation is blessed

4)    Creation is affected by human sin (groans in labor pains), and requires rest (Sabbath)

5)    Human role

6)    Creation will be redeemed

Genesis 1

Genesis 2:15

Hosea 4:1-3

Isaiah 24:5-6

Malachi 3: Genesis 2:15 (NIV)

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Hosea 4:1-3 (NIV)

The Charge Against Israel

4     Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites,

because the LORD has a charge to bring

against you who live in the land:

“There is no faithfulness, no love,

no acknowledgment of God in the land.

2 There is only cursing,

lying and murder,

stealing and adultery;

they break all bounds,

and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 Because of this the land mourns,

and all who live in it waste away;

the beasts of the field and the birds of the air

and the fish of the sea are dying.

Isaiah 24:5-6 (NIV)

5 The earth is defiled by its people;

they have disobeyed the laws,

violated the statutes

and broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;

its people must bear their guilt.

Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,

and very few are left.

Romans 8:22

Malachi 3:2 (NIV)

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 2