Monday, March 29
The Bible states that God created humankind — male and female — “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). Based on this idea, answer the following questions:
1. What does it mean that God created us in His own image? In what ways are we “in His own image”?
2. According to the Genesis account, did the Lord make anything else “in His own image” other than humankind? If not, what does that tell us about our unique status, in contrast to the rest of the earthly creation? What lessons can we draw from this contrast?
3. What else can be found in the account of the creation of humankind that sets the race apart from anything else the Lord had created? See Genesis 2:7, 18-25.
Although we must speak of God in human terminology, we must not forget that He is a spiritual Being (John 4:24), possessing divine characteristics. All we can say is that in our physical, mental, and spiritual natures, we reflect in some way our divine Creator, however much there remains about Him that is still, at least for us, shrouded in mystery. The Bible emphasizes, however, the spiritual and mental aspects of our mind. These aspects we can develop and improve. It is the uniqueness of the human mind that makes possible a nourishing relationship with God, something the rest of anything in God’s earthly creation seem unable to do.
Notice, too, the unique account of how God made woman. Both men and women share the incredible privilege of being made in the image of God. In their creation, there is no hint of inferiority of one to the other. God Himself made them both from the same material. God made both equal from the start and placed them together in a special relationship with Him. Both had the same opportunity to develop their God-given characters in a way that would bring glory to Him.
“God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided ‘an help meet for him’ — a helper corresponding to him — one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him.” Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46
