Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth [Gen 1b]

Gen 1:26-2:3

Key Verse 1:28.

Introduction: When man does not know why he is here and what he has to do, it is very problematic. All the more when man does not feel that he is blessed by his creator, he or she find little meaning and often are caught with frustration and fatalism. But in today's passage, God tells us that he created man to bless and we all are ought to know this.

By the sixth day  God created a perfect and beautiful world. In this world, darkness is gone and light shines daily by Sun, moon and stars. There is sky flying with all kinds of birds.  There is a sea where many fishes are teeming. There is a land which  lushes with fruit bearing trees and green plants and all kinds of animals. In this setting God created man in his image and bless them to be fruitful, increase in number and fill the earth and subdue it. God created man to bless and in this blessing man find true joy and happiness. So we can find what God did in creation of man and learn God's blessing and his purpose .

1.      God's grandeur plan for the world [26]

In the middle of the sixth day, God almost completed his creation. By this time he drove out the darkness and filled the earth with light every day. He divide and demarcated all spaces; sky, sea and land. He filled the empty space with all kinds of fishes, birds and animals. He repeated that it was good 5 times. We can feel God's joy and happiness. But it was not clear what God wanted to do with this beautiful world.  For the first time during this creation period, God uttered his plan. In this plan is God's ultimate goal for the world that he created.

v26.

Here God wanted to do two things; God wanted to create man in his own image. also God wanted to let man to rule over everything on the earth. If we put these two together; God wanted to create man in his image so that man may rule over the earth and all creation on the earth.

God's plan is clear; But one thing is not clear, why? Why does God  let man take care of all creations? What is the ultimate goal for the world or for man?

2.      God create man in his image [27]

v27

In this verse the fact that God created man in his own image is repeated and emphasized. For God it was very important that man is created in the image of God. 

First Man is created in God's own image. God is the one God Almighty. No other being is like him. No creatures that God created has any image of God. But for man, God wanted to create in his own image. God wanted to impart man some of his own attributes. God is creating man as if he is creating his own son after him. Through this it is quite clear that God put particular love,  effort  and purpose in creating man. In other words, God wanted to make sure that the man he created know God the creator and understand him, and return back his love and obey his will; he must be able to communicate in trust and love. The heart in this relationship is to know God's will and to implement God's purpose for the world.

God created man in the image of God; What is the image of God? There are many ideas what it might be. We can find this in his relationship with his people Israel. When God called Israel to be his people, he said 'you are my son' also he said, I am holy so you must be holy.

Jesus, the Son of God came to be with man in flesh. While he lived on the earth, he showed the image of God fully. In him was the truth, knowledge and love and righteousness and holiness. Jesus understood God the Father so well and obeyed even to the point of death because he trusted God the Father. So after all we can say that the image of God means some of the attributes of God, holiness, righteousness, goodness, knowledge that makes man able to understand all these. No animal know what it means to be righteous or holy. Man is godly being. He is or should be closer to God than any other creatures of the world. After all we can say two things; man are like him in godliness and man has particular love and trust relationship with God-son. Because of these two man is qualified as well as he has ability and authority to rule over all creatures of the world.. Yes this is the reason why God makes emphasis on the fact that man was created in God's image!

3.      God blessed them [28-30]

The fact that God created man in his own image tells about what constitutes man. So what he is has clear link to what he is to do! But if there is only what he has to do, then it doesn't sound good. Why God did this is more clear in v 28

God blessed them. Man has God's blessing. It is very good feeling to know that we have God's blessing. God's purpose is to bless man no matter what many might distort his will or purpose. God's desire and his will and his purpose for man has not changed. It begun with blessing and this purpose of blessing is still with us.  As we know while we were still sinners, God sent his son Jesus to pay for our sins. God's will and desire to bless man is still with us. This is seen in these two verses:

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

What is the content of blessing?

a.      God wants man to increase and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.

b.      God wants man to rule over all creatures on the earth!

Man is over the earth and over all creatures: man is the host and master of the earth!  God gave that authority and power. The whole earth is his land, and his domain. Mountains and seas should never be his object of fear or worship.  One of the atheistic thinking is that man and nature are one; man identify themselves with animals. In such thinking the nature is huge and insurmountable object that no man dare to conquer.  But  the creator God gave man power and authority to subdue it. Even man is to rule over all the living creatures.   The words, ‘subdue’ and ‘rule over ‘, are very forceful word of authority.  Uncontestable authority and power over all the creatures of the earth is given to man and man are to do so. Man is to rule and to subdue, never be fearful or subdues! This is what God want for man to do; God is very happy with!

So in this order of authority is established: God the absolute and utmost authority, and then man over entire creation and then all the creatures. Whatever man are to do, man should never forget this order of authority. Actually man is the one who keeps and upholds this order. The primary goal? God and his name may be uphold high above all creatures. God must be honored as the authority of the universe. Man is the center of that action, the agent of  implementing this order.

This will of God is seen in his provision for food: This distinction is also found in God’s provisions for food.

V29-30.

  ²⁹ Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

God gave man every seed bearing plants on the whole face of the earth and every trees that bear fruits to man. This is an amazing provision for man. There won't be no problem for man to enjoy his food. Wherever they go, there are food to eat. He can go to the whole face of the earth. This is an abundance of blessing and such provision speaks of the richness of God's blessing.

 What did God give to animals? --'I give every green plant for food'  To animals God did not give these seed bearing plants and trees that bear fruits though God gave the all green plants. They are not to eat what man eats. In this way God made man above animals. In this way man is particular in God's eyes and is above all creatures on the earth.

After all what can we say about God’s creation of man?

a.      God created man so that God may entrust the creation on man.

b.      For this purpose God created man with particular care and love; that is creating him in the image of God.

c.       Man is to be fruitful and increase in number to fill the earth; rule over all creatures within the richness of  the image of God.  Eventually what God wanted will be carried out by man.

After God set up all these, what did he feel about the whole creation?

4.      God bless the seventh day [31-2:3]

V31

When God saw all that he made, it was very good in his eyes. Simply he was so happy and satisfied about what he created. Here we must note that man is the center of all these creation.  When I say that man is the center of all creation, it means two things

1.      God was extremely happy about the fact that he created man in his own image and that man was entrusted the care of all of God’s creatures. In this way God set up a perfect system : God-man- all the creatures.

2.      He was happy that He gave the man, who has image of himself, the blessing to fill the earth.  

3.      God was happy about this set up because God’s will is secured in and through man who has image of God. It is secured not only now but also for the time coming in the future.

Now one question remains; how can God make sure that man capture the will of God? We know when God created man in his own image, man in his own constitution has ability to know and understand God’s truth, his will and his love for the world, particularly God’s purpose for all of his creation. Yet how can this be secured in on-going basis?  How can all the creation find its relationship with the creator? Where and what is the meeting point? 

2:1-2

The work of creation has been completed on the sixth day. On the seventh day God rested from all his work of creation. It is done and nothing more to be done. God is happy and he declares a rest .

What is rest?

a.      No work: the meaning of Sabbath is no work.

b.      what God has provided is sufficient and full for man and in out of this comes thankfulness and love and submission to God. the life is at peace; all needs are met in satisfaction. Life is at peace and rest because God the Lord can and will meet all our needs.

c.       the work that man is to do is not for himself but  for God. He works not to make his own life rich and affordable and comfortable. He works in thanks to God who provided everything and to give honor and glory to Him. God’s provision is all sufficient and his control and perfectness of his will is fully achieved.

Rest is the symbol of peace and sufficiency.

 Who are to join in this rest? .

After men rejected God, God chose Israel to be his children. To make them his children God made a covenant with them. In this covenant, they are to keep the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath  is the one of the essential feature of being God's children.

Exodus 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

On Sabbath day all are to rest to join in God’s rest. This is not just Israel but all including slaves, guests and aliens as well as animals. It means that entire creation must partake in the rest of God, including the land itself. [Jer 50:34]  So it is very important principle of God that entire creation must join with him in God's rest.

When Adam join in God's rest, what would happen?

1.      All creation[Adam]  find peace and sufficiency in his provisions.

2.      God must be honored and glorified as the Lord, the creator and provide of all things

Who is the chief leading agent in participating God's rest? It is man; he must lead the way of this as the head master of all the creatures. This is demanded as the children of God, Israel.

The rest in God's eternal qualities and in God's abundant provision is a must for man for his peace and to carry out his work that God gave him to do.

God rested first on the Sabbath day and God invited all of creation to join in His rest. God did this openly and clearly.

2:3

God bless the seventh day. As anyone enjoin in the Sabbath, he will receive God's blessing; the blessing that God purported in his creation of the world. He also find peace and rest in all that God has for him.

The heart of this blessing is 'holiness'.  So God made the seventh day holy. When God made it holy, it means that the seventh day belong to God. In other word, it is not the day of man but the day belongs to God. It is the day to find rest  from all works. In this rest in of God man is to find true peace, joy and knowledge of truth.

If we put this word back ward, if one finds the rest of God, then he is God’s people and God’s children and is able to implement what God wanted for his creation.

As we live in the world full of restlessness, we yearn for rest.  We are hard pressed and often weary and burdened. So Jesus offered this.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Also Jesus claimed  that he is the Lord of the Sabbath[Luke 6:1-5].

The 11 disciples were in fear and shock after Jesus their Lord was crucified on the cross. They were hiding in a secluded room, which no one can find.  Here risen Jesus visited them. The first word Jesus said to them was 'Peace be with you' Here peace is the other side of rest.

We are created in the image of God. We are blessed by God. We are to be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.  All these blessings will be ours when we find the true rest that Jesus provides us. This lead us to the perfect world that God created for us.