Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Genesis 1:26-31 New King James Version
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [b]moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is [c]life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Here we read about the creation of mankind. In chapter 2, we will read about a more detailed version of their creation and environment. These two accounts are complementary and teach us several things–
Both man and woman were special creations of God, not a product of evolution.
Matthew 19:4 New King James Version
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who [a]made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
Man and woman were created in the image and likeness of God. “Let US make man in OUR image” reveals a plurality of God that we do not really find out about until coming of Christ. We were created in the form of Him that was to come- Jesus
Philippians 2:7 New King James Version
7 but [a]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Our physical makeup is in God’s image in a way that is not true of animals. God gave to humans the image in which He would one day appear to us and the form that Jesus would take when HE walked among us.
1 Timothy 3:16 New King James Version
16 And without controversy great is the [a]mystery of godliness: God[b] was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
We were created in His image and likeness so that we could respond to Him and have fellowship with Him to reflect His love, glory and holiness. No other creation can have this kind of fellowship with the Lord- humans are a unique creation.
Psalm 139:14 New King James Version
14 I will praise You, for [a]I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
In the beginning of creation- man and woman possessed a moral likeness to God. They were sinless and holy, possessing wisdom, a heart of love and the will to do right. They lived in personal fellowship with God that involved moral obedience and intimate communion.
They also possessed a natural likeness to God. They were created as personal beings with spirit, mind, emotions, self-consciousness, and power of choice.
Then they were charged with being fruitful and ruling over the earth and animal kingdom. They were created to form family relationships.
God expected them to consecrate all things in the earth to Him and to manage it in a God-glorifying way, fulfilling the Divine purpose. The future of the earth was placed under their dominion.
Hebrews 2:6-8 New King James Version
6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him [a]a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, [b]And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
What does this creation account mean to us?
1)You are uniquely created. You did not come from a monkey. Humans are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are unique among all of His creation. Evolution and even “theistic evolution” is a lie. This view adopts most of the conclusions of naturalistic evolution, adding only that God is responsible for starting the evolutionary process. This contradicts clear Biblical revelation that ascribes to God an active role in all aspects of creation.
God made you either male or female. There are only 2 genders. Period. THIS IS IMPORTANT. The whole multi-gender and homosexual unions argument defies the nature of creation found in the Word of God. Settle this now. These arguments go against God’s creation
You were created not just in His physical image, but in His likeness. You have thoughts, feelings, emotions, a self-conscious and free-will. The animals were created to do what they do. Example- a dog was created to be a dog. He runs around in circles and chases his tail. He goes around in packs. He can be tamed, but he is a dog. He will eat his own vomit and lick his unmentionable parts. A dog can only be a dog- he doesn’t have free will to be a cat. He only knows how to be a dog.
Humans have free choice. That natural instinct that animals have, we do not necessarily have. We are uniquely designed. We each have our own DNA and fingerprint, unlike anyone else. We can laugh, cry, dance, mope, sing and rejoice, or be downcast and sullen. WE have wide range of emotions. Animals obey God’s design- but we choose to obey Him. We choose to respond/not respond to Him.
When Adam and Eve sinned, our moral compass and likeness was corrupted. Without Christ, you have Adam’s fallen nature and are in bondage to sin. You cannot escape it on your own. But IF you are in Christ, your nature has been renewed back to its original intention.
Ephesians 4:22-24 New King James Version
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:9-10 New King James Version
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
You have a free will- to either go your own way and do your own thing, or come back into fellowship with the Lord, to walk beside Him and commune with Him. This is man’s original purpose.
God wants a restored relationship with us. He wants us to choose Him.
2)Be fruitful and multiply!
Man was created to form family relationships. This stated purpose of God in creation indicates that He considers a godly family and the raising of children of utmost priority in the world. One man + one woman in holy matrimony is God’s plan from the dawn of time
Titus 2:1-5 New King James Version
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
The family and the raising of children unto the Lord is God’s design and purpose for men and women. Now, you can be like Paul and choose to remain single, but that is the exception, not the standard. (it is also likely that Paul had a wife of his youth- pharisee)
People want to do all these BIG things, get rich, be famous, be known, be an influencer etc And most will say its for the Lord, but it is really for themselves and their own kingdom. But it is God’s will and design for men to find a wife and raise godly kids unto the Lord. THIS is spectacular and wonderful. Want to do something grand and unique? Want to be different and set apart? Get married, stay married and raise God-fearing children to know and love the Lord.
I saw this on FB the other day by a man named David Fairchild-
“I’ve watched a strange shift happen among men over the years. In one generation, guys were shamed into thinking they weren’t man enough to get married. They’d absorbed a feminized vision of manhood—one that told them they weren’t emotionally aware enough, soft enough, domesticated enough. So they delayed. They hesitated. They kept waiting to “mature” into some enlightened version of masculinity that never arrived. Now I’m watching a different set of excuses. Today, men claim they’re too masculine to get married. Too free. Too focused. Too self-governing. They see marriage as a trap, a threat to their autonomy. They scoff at the idea of building a life with someone, of sticking around to raise kids, of laying down their preferences for the sake of something bigger. Different philosophies. Same result. Satan doesn’t care which lie you believe—just as long as you believe something that keeps you from taking responsibility for others. He doesn’t care if you think you’re too weak or too strong. Too soft or too fierce. Too incomplete or too self-sufficient. As long as you don’t marry. As long as you don’t have kids. As long as you don’t grow up. As long as you stay isolated, distracted, and convinced that maturity is optional. The enemy wins when men abandon covenant, avoid fatherhood, and refuse the hard, holy work of becoming responsible for others. You want to be a man? Then love a woman. Raise some kids. Build something that lasts longer than you. Take some hits and stay in the fight. Making women an idol to need their approval, or making them a villain to avoid all entanglements, is just a way of avoiding manhood.”
This is what is lasting! Raising generations of children who call upon the name of the Lord.
3)We are to consecrate all things in the earth to Him, subdue and take dominion.
Consecrate means to “set apart”, so it means that you should not do ANTYHING unless it glorifies the Lord. Our mindset should always be, “does this honor the Lord?” (think relationship, job, buying a home, discipline with children, etc)
The word subdue in Genesis 1:28 is the Hebrew verb kavash meaning to subdue it. The noun form of this word is kevesh and means “a footstool,” a place where one places the foot. The verb kavash literally means to place your foot on the neck of your conquered enemy signifying a submission of the enemy to his defeater. Incidentally, this is the same word we use today such as in “put the kabash on it” meaning to make an end of something or to “subdue” it.
The words “have dominion” are the Hebrew verb radah. This verb means to rule by going down and walking among the subjects as an equal. The use of the two Hebrew verbs radah and kavash imply that that man is to rule over the earth and animals as his subjects, not as a dictator, but a benevolent leader. (original creation intent)
There are a lot of commentaries of man’s responsibility to “subdue” and take dominion over the animals and the earth. We have a responsibility to take care of that which God has given us. However, the human/animal/earth relationship was ruined by the fall. Try subduing a lion. The earth and animals still feel the effects of the fall.
Romans 8:20-22 New King James Version
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [a]corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Hebrews 2:8 New King James Version
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Ultimately, it is the work of Jesus to restore the earth/animals to their perfect place and function at His coming at the end of the age- when the lion will lie down with the lamb; but there is authority that Jesus restored to all men who receive Him-
Looking ahead to Jesus, Micah sees how God would put the ultimate and final kabash on sin in His Son, Jesus Christ:
Micah 7:19 “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.”
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you POWER (AUTHORITY) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL THE POWER (ability, might, strength) of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Giving man this authority or dominion was God’s idea from the beginning of creation. We know Adam lost it when he sinned and delivered it to Satan to become the god of this world. The Good News is Jesus came and destroyed the works of Satan, regaining and restoring man’s dominion and his rightful place of sonship and giving it back to the believer in Christ. As His children, there are things we can do to the devil to put the “kabash” on him!
Hebrews 2:14-15 New King James Version
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
1 John 3:8 New King James Version
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Now, In Christ, we have authority over our enemy. WE can- (for the following I have scripture references, but I will reference only. No need to pull up and display)
- Cast him out (Mk. 16:17) he has no place in the believer’s life! Pray over your homes and families. Tell him to get his hands off you and your stuff. I pray this almost daily. I anoint my home with oil.
- Stand and withstand his warfare (Eph. 6:11-14) You are not subject to him. You have been given the authority to wage war- through prayer and the Word. You do not have to take his beating! Pray powerful prayers to come against him and take him down in your home
- Resist him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8,9) You are no longer subject to him! You can supernaturally resist all his arrows and temptations. We are told to pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
- Give him no place (Eph. 4:27) You have the power to not allow him in your life. Get thee behind me Satan! Make sure you know Jesus.
- Destroy his works (1 Jn. 3:8; John 14:12-14) we have authority to tear down his strongholds. Pray over your home, city, state and country. Tear down his strongholds
The Lord will not do these things for us. Through Christ and in Him, He has given us the permission and privilege to act and exercise dominion over all the power of our enemy
Dominion over mind and body was also restored in Christ. When Adam sinned and spiritual death entered into his being he lost his dominion and was now subject to evil forces.
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
The Fall into sin affected ALL MEN and ALL OF MAN, our spirit, soul, and body. Everything was affected by the fall and we became in bondage to Satan, sin and our flesh.
When Jesus came He took on Himself all of the consequences of fallen man on His Cross so we could become all that He was and free us from subjection to sin, spiritual death, the prince of the power of the air, our stinking flesh, and the sin darkened mind.
Our entire being is no longer in subjection to this bondage. With eternal life in our spirit, we have authority and can rule our mind, will, and emotions and our body. With the authority comes the responsibility to bring our mind and body into subjection to our spirit and the Word of God so we can be totally under His rule.
1 Corinthians says 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
We can keep our body in subjection to our inner man, our spirit man and the Word of God. Our body, with the lust of the flesh, does not have to rule us. It would be unjust for God to tell us to control our body if it was not possible to do it.
Our thoughts and our mind we can control as well.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
We are sons and daughters of the most High God! We have authority over our bodies!
We don’t have to lose our mind and go crazy. We do not have to allow our emotions to dominate us and influence us to make wrong choices. We can make our mind and thoughts come into subjection to our spirit and the Word of God. It would be unjust for God to tell us to control our body if it was not possible to do it. We can overcome all fear, all anxiety, all sin and all the enemy will throw at us in Jesus name!
Stop praying weak, powerless prayers and pray powerfully in Jesus name. He has given us, His fearfully and wonderfully made creation the victory!
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