BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY
On the surface, "be fruitful and multiply" looks like a command, but upon closer look one can see that it is a blessing in the form of a command. God said these words not only to Adam and Eve, but he said the same thing to Noah as he exited the ark.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth...(Genesis 1:28)."
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1).
There are two reason why I believe these are blessing:
1. Both passages clearly begin with the words "God blessed...."
2. Shortly before God blessed Adam and Eve with these words, on the fourth day, he said the same thing to the creatures that filled the sky and that filled the oceans. God would not give a command to a fish or a bird that they could possibly choose to act upon. Rather, as when God commanded that there be light, creation obeyed without free choice. So it is with the birds and creatures of the seas.
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth (Genesis 1:22)."
Now here's where it gets a bit sticky. God blessed Adam and Eve, but the blessing was more than a blessing of increasing in number. God told Adam and Eve to take control of creation. He did not tell the birds and fish to take control of creation, because they could not fulfill that command; so this part of the verse seems more like a command than a blessing, but it is still a part of the blessing.
DOMINATE CREATION
...fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground (Genesis 1:28)."
The choice of word "subdue" (in Hebrew "kabash") is very interesting. It is a strong word implying the taking control of something, bringing into bondage, dominating and even violating something.
Many of the early settlers of the U.S. used this verse along with several other scripture to justify taking land from the American Indians, but this was not what was intended in Genesis. When Genesis was written, the earth was so much bigger and forgiving than it is today. There just weren't so many people, so the earth could give back so much more than people could take. That is not so true today.
It may be very possible that this verse helped to define the Western worldview on the use of earth's resources, in that, in the West we see the planet as something to control and dominate. In many other world views, the earth is something of which we are an intimate part - something that needs to be cared for.
TAKE CARE OF THE EARTH
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15).
In a past blog, I already mentioned that there are two stories of creation and that chapter 2 is the second story. In the first story, Adam and Eve were told to subdue the world. In the second chapter, Adam is told to take care of the garden. In the first story, God blessed Adam and Eve with responsibility; in the second, Adam is given the job of protecting creation.
There are two words of interest here:
1. To work ('abad) means to serve or to work. It is the word Genesis used to define the purpose and the responsibility of Adam and Eve both in and out of the garden (when Adam and Eve left the garden, God gave them the responsibility to work ('abad) the earth. 'Abad is also used in the Bible to describe what happens when one nation rules over another. The one that is ruled is the one who "serves" the other. It is also used in our relationship with God when we "serve" Him. Through Adam and Eve, we are given the responsibility to serve the earth.
2. To take care of (shamar) means to watch, keep, or observe. It is commonly used in the Bible to define what we should do with God's covenant, the Bible, the Sabbath, or God's commandments. It is also used to describe that God watches over us, and when a shepherd watches over his sheep. This word implies protection and keeping out of danger, such as a watchman (or security guard) protecting the troops or a city.
Out of 468 times shamar is used in the Bible, it refers to land only one other time: They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,' " declares the LORD (Jeremiah 4:17).
CONCLUSION
In the first story of creation, God blessed humanity (through Adam and Eve) with leadership over the world. We were told to take the land and own it, control it, and give it order. In the second story of creation, however, we were told to serve it and to protect it. This is the one commission that God gives to all of humanity.
The first few chapters of Genesis talk a lot about the earth (dirt and ground), and what comes from the ground (plants, animals and human beings). According to Genesis, it is our purpose in life to bear children and to dominate as well as take care of the earth; watching over it and protecting it.
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1).
There are two reason why I believe these are blessing:
1. Both passages clearly begin with the words "God blessed...."
2. Shortly before God blessed Adam and Eve with these words, on the fourth day, he said the same thing to the creatures that filled the sky and that filled the oceans. God would not give a command to a fish or a bird that they could possibly choose to act upon. Rather, as when God commanded that there be light, creation obeyed without free choice. So it is with the birds and creatures of the seas.
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth (Genesis 1:22)."
Now here's where it gets a bit sticky. God blessed Adam and Eve, but the blessing was more than a blessing of increasing in number. God told Adam and Eve to take control of creation. He did not tell the birds and fish to take control of creation, because they could not fulfill that command; so this part of the verse seems more like a command than a blessing, but it is still a part of the blessing.
DOMINATE CREATION
...fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground (Genesis 1:28)."
The choice of word "subdue" (in Hebrew "kabash") is very interesting. It is a strong word implying the taking control of something, bringing into bondage, dominating and even violating something.
Many of the early settlers of the U.S. used this verse along with several other scripture to justify taking land from the American Indians, but this was not what was intended in Genesis. When Genesis was written, the earth was so much bigger and forgiving than it is today. There just weren't so many people, so the earth could give back so much more than people could take. That is not so true today.
It may be very possible that this verse helped to define the Western worldview on the use of earth's resources, in that, in the West we see the planet as something to control and dominate. In many other world views, the earth is something of which we are an intimate part - something that needs to be cared for.
TAKE CARE OF THE EARTH
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15).
In a past blog, I already mentioned that there are two stories of creation and that chapter 2 is the second story. In the first story, Adam and Eve were told to subdue the world. In the second chapter, Adam is told to take care of the garden. In the first story, God blessed Adam and Eve with responsibility; in the second, Adam is given the job of protecting creation.
There are two words of interest here:
1. To work ('abad) means to serve or to work. It is the word Genesis used to define the purpose and the responsibility of Adam and Eve both in and out of the garden (when Adam and Eve left the garden, God gave them the responsibility to work ('abad) the earth. 'Abad is also used in the Bible to describe what happens when one nation rules over another. The one that is ruled is the one who "serves" the other. It is also used in our relationship with God when we "serve" Him. Through Adam and Eve, we are given the responsibility to serve the earth.
2. To take care of (shamar) means to watch, keep, or observe. It is commonly used in the Bible to define what we should do with God's covenant, the Bible, the Sabbath, or God's commandments. It is also used to describe that God watches over us, and when a shepherd watches over his sheep. This word implies protection and keeping out of danger, such as a watchman (or security guard) protecting the troops or a city.
Out of 468 times shamar is used in the Bible, it refers to land only one other time: They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,' " declares the LORD (Jeremiah 4:17).
CONCLUSION
In the first story of creation, God blessed humanity (through Adam and Eve) with leadership over the world. We were told to take the land and own it, control it, and give it order. In the second story of creation, however, we were told to serve it and to protect it. This is the one commission that God gives to all of humanity.
The first few chapters of Genesis talk a lot about the earth (dirt and ground), and what comes from the ground (plants, animals and human beings). According to Genesis, it is our purpose in life to bear children and to dominate as well as take care of the earth; watching over it and protecting it.
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