Commissioned

Genesis 1:28 NASB95

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

INTRO: How many of you have ever planted a garden? This year, my wife and I have a garden for the first time… I say “my wife and I” but it’s really more hers than mine. Anyway, when you plant a garden- especially a fruit and vegetable garden, you do so not simply to look at the little green plants, but rather to harvest that which these plants are intended to produce. We set out tomato plants and we expect to get tomatoes. We set out squash and zucchini and expect to pick squash and zucchini.

Well, in a similar fashion, mankind was ‘set out’ with expectation.

Last week, we began looking at the creation of mankind and we talked about how man was made both on purpose and for a purpose. We focused in on being made in God’s image and reflecting His rule and reign.

Today, we will look at the commissioning of mankind or the expectant planting of mankind on earth.

In Genesis 1:28, we see that God blessed mankind- that is, He granted them favor and authority to do that which He would commission them to do. The expectation is 2-fold, and is carried out through the 3 specific commands.

This expectation, much like when we plant a garden, is to “Be fruitful and multiply”. Let’s break this down-

- Being FRUITFUL can be described as simply doing what you are designed to do.

- MULTIPLYING can be understood as raising offspring that will also do what they are designed to do.

God does not expect you do do that which you are NOT designed to do. For instance, I do not expect my tomato plants to produce spaghetti sauce, just tomatoes and, if I were a good farmer, more tomato plants. I don’t expect them to produce watermelons or filet mignon. But these expectations can be better understood in light of God’s commissioning in the same verse.

So, let’s learn together. If you picked up a bulletin, you can follow along using the provided sermon guide. Those discussion questions are for you to take home and do on your own. I hope you will take advantage of that opportunity to further your spiritual growth.

Looking with me then, the first piece of God’s commission is that mankind is:

Commissioned to Fill the Earth (28a)

Now, we see this and we automatically think- “Have babies” - That is part of it, but let’s not miss the full intention here.

To fill the earth directly ties back to what we studied last week. Because we are made in God’s image, we are meant to reflect God’s rule and reign to all of creation- including the angels, Satan, and Satan’s demons. Let’s look through some of these implications:

To fill the earth is to multiply God’s proclamation of authority and victory throughout the whole world.

Your family is designed to be a discipleship hub. Deut. 6 emphasizes the role of parents in ensuring their children know and love God. The command to fill the earth is purposeful, and as Christians we need to acknowledge our role in reflecting God’s rule and reign and guiding our children to do the same.

To fill the earth is to enjoy the earth.

This command helps us to see that the earth was created for mankind to both occupy and enjoy. We are not a parasite on the earth. We were placed here and given a right to be here by the Creator.

I want you to think about the beauty of this world: mountains and waterfalls; sunsets and beaches; hay-fields and jungles… This joy and satisfaction we get was not on accident. God created these things and gave mankind the unique ability to appreciate and enjoy them!

This command may also help explain our curiosity.

ILL: How many of you have ever just driven around and thought… I wonder where that road leads… let’s find out! Or you might be more adventurous and think, “I’d love to ride down the Amazon (River, not .com) or explore those caves in South America...”

The reason mankind has explored and sought to build new communities is no accident! It’s part of that commission to fill the earth.

Look over in Gen. 2:10-14. Moses is describing the rivers and where they lead.. he also makes mention of gold and onyx and other precious and beautiful resources which are called ‘good’.

This commission, to fill the earth, ought to encourage us to know that God has made earth to accommodate mankind and all His creation. He has given us a place to belong. Christian, you have a role in filling the earth. Now, we must still acknowledge the effects of sin. At this point in Scripture, mankind was still sinless. Thus, the command to fill the earth was originally one where God’s proclamation of victory included man in right relationship with Him.

Yet, through Jesus Christ, we can take the commission to fill the earth and apply it both physically and spiritually. In fact, if you and I look to the NT book of Matthew, we find similar language in Matthew 28:19-20. GO to all the world and make disciples- be fruitful and multiply through filling the earth.

Discuss: How can this command to fill the earth embolden you? Have you gained any new perspective regarding God’s design and commission?

Commissioned to Subdue (28b)

I don’t know about you, but when I think of the word “subdue”, I think of professional wrestling… or, as my grandfather called it “Wrastling”. But, God’s command to subdue the earth isn’t exactly the same as putting a sleeper hold on an oak tree...

We might better understand this word to mean “tame” or to make useful/ usable.

If you have a pet, you have likely had to train it in some way. Perhaps you’ve taught your dog to sit, stay, come, etc. My daughter has taught our dog to twirl around on her hind legs… I’m not sure how useful this is, but that’s beside the point.

When it comes to subduing the earth, we need to think about a broader picture than pets, though there is some correlation there. Again, we have some implications here:

Subdue includes the idea of building and innovating.

Ever wonder why we don’t just live in the trees like the birds? God gave man the ability and indeed the command to make this world useful and usable for life.

I am often amazed at how mankind has used the resources of the earth and built skyscrapers, super-cool cars, computers, etc. This is no accident.

I’d like to point out that when Moses received the instructions for the tabernacle, so much of the design included using nice wood and overlaying it with gold so that the people of Israel could worship Yahweh.

Subduing the earth means work.

Some people scoff at the notion that we are supposed to work. They just want to play all day every day.. that and argue on the tweeter page.

I was reading an article the other week about how people in America have lost their work ethic. That tells me that people in America have disconnected from God’s commission to subdue the earth.

Folks, work is good. Look over to Gen 2:15- God placed man in the garden to cultivate it and keep it… in other words, to work it! This was before sin, mind you.

So, let me just say that it is part of God’s command and design for you and I to work. In fact, there are several warnings in Scripture against being idle or being lazy. Grads, I want to tell you that work is good.

In fact, in working, we are being fruitful in that we are doing what we are designed to do. And by working with integrity and godly character, you are modeling for others that which God has commanded.

Be fruitful and multiply through filling and subduing the earth

Discuss: What does it mean to subdue the earth? How does this command shape your view of society and how it should work?

Commissioned to Rule (28c)

Now, here’s one that, when I said that, some of you were like, “Oh yeah, now we’re talking!”

To rule means to have dominion. But we gotta dig a bit deeper, so don’t get caught up in day-dreaming just yet.

This command, like the others is not separated from God’s design of mankind- made in God’s image. On earth, God has placed mankind not only as images of His rule and reign, but to rule and reign on His behalf over His creation.

This, friends, is a BIG RESPONSIBILITY!

In order for us to understand this, we need to understand what is included in the idea ‘ruling’.

First, we need to recognize what ‘ruling’ is NOT:

It is not oppressing those under your rule

It is not taking advantage or exploiting those under your rule.

Jesus taught that those who will rule in His Kingdom would not “Lord over others like the Gentiles/ pagans do” but would lead them through serving them.

So, we don’t rule in that we ensure that we have everything we want no matter the cost to the earth or others in it. Ruling is not self-exaltation.

Instead, let’s take a look at the early understanding of kingship rule.

When David was commissioned to be king, God told him

2 Samuel 5:2 NASB95

“Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’ ”

A shepherd is one who advocates for his flock, provides for them, protects them, guides them in wisdom, etc.

So, let’s see how that parallels to the command here in Gen 1.

When God commissioned mankind to rule, he intended him to:

Steward the earth.

While we ought to recognize that God gave us the earth to use and enjoy, we must take responsibility to care for it the best we can.

This is played out in a number of ways. I’ll mention just a few:

Proper forest management, replanting of trees, etc.

Recycling, reducing waste

Limiting pollution

Build Successful Communities

This means that we are to advocate for that which leads to human flourishing

A successful community has a number of biblical markers:

People are rewarded for their work (1 Tim. 5:18 -A man is deserving of his wages)

People are protected from abuse/ violence (Ps. 82:3 - Defend the weak…)

BTW- this usually happens through laws and enforcement of justice. Even in the Garden, God had a law to protect mankind - Do not eat of this tree.... (Gen. 2:16-17)

People are led into the future (Prov. 29:18- Without vision, we perish..)

We could go on here. What we need to understand is that this command to rule requires that we take responsibility in the world. God did not place you here to be a knot on a log.

Be fruitful and multiply by filling the earth, subduing it and ruling over it.

Discuss: How is the command to rule over the earth played out in your life? What implications does this have for our community?

So what?

Church, we were created with a purpose and given the command to be fruitful and multiply. The reality is we cannot do this on our own.

Graduates, you are being launched into the world as adults, bearing this same command.

Jesus said in John 15, apart from Me, you can do nothing. If we hope to live out the creation commission, then we must be in Christ.