The Great Identity Problem- Part 3

Last week we ended our post looking at Genesis 1:26. This week, we will finish looking at Genesis 1 as we continue seeking to understand identity more fully.

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” God’s creation of man and woman is stated again in this verse and then it is expanded in Genesis 2. The consistent repetition of how humanity was created is extremely important. The Hebrew people used repetition to remember things as they were passing down the oral history of what God had done for them.

Just as it was important for the Hebrews to understand how God created them, we must understand how God created us. Genesis 1:27 repeats that we have been made in God’s image. But then it goes one step further and it talks about how we are created as male and female.

This phrase can be glossed over, but we must be clear on what God’s word says. God’s word clearly states that we are created as male and female. Those are the two options that God gives in scripture. In a culture where we hear often about gender identity, including in the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, we need to hold firm to the word of God and what it tells us; specifically, how we are made male and female.

God does not just tell us that we are made male and female. God goes beyond that. Genesis 1:28-30 says, “God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.”

God gives a blessing to Adam and Eve and then God gives them a command. God tells Adam and Eve what they are to do. They are given 4 commands. They are to be fruitful and multiply, they are to fill the earth, they are to subdue the earth and they are to rule it. God has given stewardship of His creation to Adam and Eve.

As God creates Adam and Eve, he gives them identity- male and female who are made in God’s image, and God gives purpose. One thing we will see as we look at identity is that people unfortunately can often confuse purpose and identity, but they are two separate things.

Genesis 1 closes out with one last statement. We read, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.” God saw creation, the animals, the plants, but most importantly male and female and God decrees that it is very good! God sees humanity and calls us very good. As you read this today, hear that declaration from God about you; God made you VERY GOOD INDEED. You are not an accident; God did not make a mistake; you are VERY GOOD INDEED! Unfortunately, as we’ll see next week, Adam and Eve struggled to live out of this God-given identity.

Pastor Daniel