“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness. And let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens
and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.’”
Genesis 1:26 ESV
In the
summertime, when all of nature seems to be alive and playing, being outdoors is
a delight to me! Sunshine knocks early
on the door, inviting me to join in the extra warmth and merriment. Not
bothering with shoes, I wander out, entertained by all sorts of flutter-bys,
bumbles, and various other creeping things.
Playing in
the dirt was my childhood pastime, and residing in suburban areas of the
Pacific Northwest, poisonous creatures were not a worry. I was insatiably curious of how the
“underworld” worked in its most rudimentary ways. With jar in hand, I captured whatever
creature was slow enough to get caught and studied its behavior up close.
So
recently, when I reread the creation story and came upon this verse that
instructs humanity to have dominion over the things of the earth, my mind
easily brought up that little girl with a fist full of ladybugs and a bucket
load of tadpoles. But what I hadn’t seen
in the text before was now highlighted, as if under a magnifying glass, that
double use of the word...creep.
(Note:
writers of the Bible often used repetition as a way of emphasizing significance
as we might currently use italics or bold font.)
The first
twenty-five verses of Genesis 1 read like a pattern in their reiteration of God
creating, calling it good, and then calling it a day. But in Genesis 1:26, that format is broken
with a collaboration of the Godhead in the making of mankind. Here God sets an intention for humanity,
discussing not just who They are cultivating, but giving people purpose.
“...let
them have dominion....”
Additionally,
the Creator doubles down on the descriptor of humanity’s dominion in saying,
“...over
every creeping thing that creeps....”
The Bible
tells us that God gave mankind the ability and the responsibility to rule over
all the creatures roaming the earth, sky and sea. But then He accentuates the rein over things
that creep. Why this emphasis? Because the creepiest of creepers, Satan
himself, shows right up in Genesis 3, being...well...creepy.
“Now the serpent was more crafty
than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.” Genesis 3:1 (ESV)
Have you
ever wondered how Adam and Eve could be so unconcerned that a snake was
conversing with them? As an adult I have
found that disturbing, but I doubt I would have as a child. Likely I’d have been curious and
delighted. After all, I was one to play
with the creatures I found wriggling through the grass! When the earth is our playground and God has
given us complete latitude, why would we worry about a creeping thing?
As a child
of God, this question why do I worry? still compels an honest answer.
God’s Word
in Genesis is the answer to today’s worry:
Jesus became a man to defeat Satan...that creeping thing that
creeps. And to reestablish the order He
began, giving us the same power.
When we
accept Christ as our King, we need not worry about things that could hurt
us. We become as children, having full
faith in the protection of our Lord and living unafraid. In this, we take back the confidence of
having dominion over even the creepiest things.
As Christ
said to his disciples,
“I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But
take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)
Today, as
I engage the great outdoors, I don’t play with snakes, and I expect to be
bitten by critters wanting a taste of me.
I am not innocent to the dangers that lurk. But as I go through my day, I know that
Christ is with me, and that no matter what evil may come, I have overcome.
This same
peace in Jesus is for you.
Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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