Friday 6th January
Read Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said,‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” (NIVUK)
There is a tendency to understand the phrase ‘image of God’ or ‘Imago Dei’ from the perspective of modern psychology as referring to characteristics of humanity that are not present in the animal world but are attributes of God. This results in the ‘Imago Dei’ being defined by either rationality or relationship (‘male and female he created them’ (v27c)). However, consideration of the context in which the author of the poem is writing reveals a slightly different definition of what it may mean to be created ‘in the image of God’ (v27b).
In the ancient near-east, kings regularly erected images or idols as markers of their rule over their empire. So whilst they may not physically be present in the more far-flung reaches they ruled the idol/image identified who was in charge. These statues were visible representations of the invisible ruler. Many ancient texts also describe those self-same kings of Egypt or Mesopotamia as the earthly representative of the gods, the very image of the divine. Considered together, the ‘Imago Dei’ likely seeks to convey that humanity are royal representatives, acting in place of the divine ruler.
So the striking aspect of the declaration that God created humanity in His image is that it is all of us! In contrast to the nations around them Genesis 1 declares divine representation is democratised to every human on earth – not just to kings! What that also means though is that divine responsibility is delegated to every human also. We will consider that divine role tomorrow, but as God’s vice-regents on earth our care and concern for creation, all creatures great and small, should be front and centre.
