The Making of a Man

"And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:26-28 KJV

I'm guessing that even if you've never gone to church, you've heard this passage. Chances are you've also heard about the elevated position of man in creation. And, you may have even heard about the authority implied by dominion. All these things are quite nice, but they really don't tell you anything you can use to make you a better Christian.

There is a lot to be had in these three verses, but before any of it can be put in its proper perspective we'll need to look at the part that says, "Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness ..." because God is not simply being verbose.

Current usage might lead us to believe that the words "image" and "likeness" are effectively the same thing. They are not. The word "image" is more properly understood as "reflection." God did not say "let us make a little model of us" instead He said, "Let us make man as a reflection of us."

The difference between a model and a reflection is significant. While a model may look like the original, and it may even move like the original but it is separate from the original. A reflection on the other hand is, in effect, the original. A model stands apart from the original; a reflection cannot exist without the original. A reflection can do nothing without a direct connection to the original and does only and exactly what the original does. God created man so that creation could see Him through man.

The word "likeness" is not "this picture is like that picture", but that boy is like his father. Likeness does not concern itself with structure, but action and attitude. A boy who is like his father responds in the same way his father would in the same situation. A boy who is like his father thinks in similar ways and has similar conclusions. The similarity is so close that at times it could be said that the boy is his father. God created man to think His thoughts and have His attitudes; do His actions.

Man was created to be God on earth.

Possibly the most important thing we can learn from this part of the creation story is God's intention when He created man. With this knowledge we can appreciate the prophet Jeremiah when he quotes God saying, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me ..." Jeremiah 9:23-24a