Read the passage several times through, slowly and prayerfully. It might help to use your imagination to picture the scene. At the end of the text you will find helpful background information in our ‘Setting the Scene’ section.

As you read, look out for shockers and blockers.

Shockers – a phrase, word, image or something from the text that resonates, stands out or connects with you.

Blockers – something from the text that raises questions for you.

Genesis 1.24–2.3

God said, “I command the earth to give life to all kinds of tame animals, wild animals, and reptiles.” And that’s what happened. God made every one of them. Then he looked at what he had done, and it was good.

God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.” So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.

I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes. These will be food for animals, both wild and tame, and for birds. God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came and then morning—that was the sixth day.

So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created.

By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested. God blessed the seventh day and made it special because on that day he rested from his work.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Setting the Scene

The story of creation is not meant to be a scientific account of the origins of the universe, but a poetical reminder that everything is dependent upon a sovereign God.
Whilst the word ‘environment’ is not found in the Bible, but the call to care for creation is explicit throughout.
The idea of ‘like us’ probably includes the role of looking after the creation for the creator: the way we do this, for better or worse, reflects back onto God whose image we represent!
To bless someone is not only to give them a gift but also to give them a function. The function of humans is to be fruitful and multiply and also to subdue and rule the earth and its animal inhabitants (cf. Psalm 8.6-8; James 3.7).
Subduing and ruling does not mean exploiting. Although subject to people, animals are also their companions.
Noah was the prototype conservationist when he built an ark to protect the animals from being destroyed in the flood (Genesis 6.19-20; 7.3).

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