The Eternal King, as a Family of Three, had a culture by which they lived and they wanted it to continue in all other dominions.
They travelled to an uninhabited place and lingered there. Together, they set out the form of their culture in this new-to-be-inhabited land and decided to put their culture into the hearts and minds of all the new inhabitants they would create.
They prepared the land for habitation and then they created the creatures of every possible kind: “God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” (Gen. 1:25 NIV). Finally, they established the family chosen to represent them and installed them in good relationship with all the creatures that had already been settled:“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.’ Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground–everything that has the breath of life in it–I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.” (Gen. 1:28-30). They even called upon the one who was ‘made in our image’ to name each of the creatures made from the dust (See Genesis 2:20).
The Eternal King treated the newly settled man – together with his wife – as his son and gave them the rights of royalty over the newly appointed kingdom, even to clothing them with their own glow (See Gen. 2:25). He also gave his new family responsibility for what he had established for them (SeeGen. 1:28-30 above).
2. Culture in our Hearts
He walked and talked with them in the place he made for them (See Gen. 3:8), so let us listen in to what may have been the conversation (SeeGen. 2:15-16). We will use our imagination and put it together like this: “I want you to take command of all that We have here. I and My family have placed you in control,” said the Creator King. “All rights are yours so long as you continue to uphold the culture We have established. We have lived by Our cultural standards through vast challenges and it is in all Our interests for it to continue,” He advised.
“Sure Dad, all You taught me is here in my heart,” replied the new son. “I will live by what I have learned from You. Then together, we will continue what You have established and keep it to Your standard.”
“Son, be sure you include all who come after you, and We will keep in regular contact with you. Remember, you have huge responsibilities. And, son,” warned the Father gently, “do not change anything I have taught you even if something else appears to be better.”
They shook hands and, with a smile, He and His family left.
So dominion was transferred to the son and his wife (See Gen. 1:28-30 above). They were to share duties and to live in harmony with everything around them and with all creatures of land, sea, and air in honour of the commitment given to them.
From their very first moments together, the man and his wife shared ideas and activities. They walked together everywhere, discussing the landscape with its gentle waterways and its vegetation. They admired the tall trees and became particularly conscious of how the creatures reacted to them and how friendly they were.
The creatures in this place had never known the horror of a predator. Nothing had ever threatened them so they were totally at ease with whatever the man and his wife did. They were close to humans and enjoyed their company as only a stress free creature can.
This is exactly what God planned when he created the world and made the man and woman in his image. God knew what could go wrong if any of his directions was ignored and he placed a warning in the hearts of the man and his wife. The warning was that they were to have no other gods. That is, they were not to put any voice above the voice of their Creator.
3. Culture in our Hearts
The Father, the Creator and the Holy Spirit who had made man “in our image, after our likeness,” then let them “have dominion” over the earth and everything in it. He explained their mandate, blest them, and told them to multiply (SeeGenesis 1:26-30).
The Lord of the Universe made provision that nothing need interfere with what he had established, and mankind was totally at peace with all creatures. We still see touches of it all today and our love for earth and its creatures is still visible today.
Devastation and death came later, but — and this is the vital point — just as all who choose salvation in Christ will be saved, so will their loved creatures be saved also. The eternal covenant, made only by Father, Creator and Holy Spirit, covered mankind and all creatures (See Genesis 1:25).
Would you please pray that each one of us might gain insight into our Lord’s culture so that we might choose to enjoy every evidence we see of it wherever and whenever we can?
Elizabeth Price