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. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.'” Genesis 1:26-27

By David J. Marsh

People are searching for identity. As we watch our culture grope in the darkness of sin, we see displays of tremendous effort both individually and collectively to find identity and community. There is endless striving to define gender, sexuality, and racial or cultural affiliation.

People have taken on the task of defining who they are, not knowing that their Creator has already done so.

As we read the opening phrase of Genesis 1:26, we find we are privy to the very mind of God as He prepares to create us. A divine act is taking place. The very intent and purpose of God’s plan to make us is on display. The Hebrew word bârâ’ is a special word used only when God Himself makes. Without hesitation He follows through on His idea.

The Creator takes action, and just as He imagined, He creates mankind in His own image. The Imago Dei.

This Latin phrase declares who we are––made in the image of God. We should allow this knowledge to drive our worldview regarding the protection and treatment of human life. But what does it mean exactly? In his book Old Testament Theology, Bruce Waltke lists three aspects of the Imago Dei for our culture to consider:

God made man in His likeness, but we should not worship mankind. We must never confuse the created for the Creator. We point to the Creator, as all created images do, but we reserve worship and honor for the Creator Himself.

“We are a faithful and adequate representation of God”. We are living beings. God made no other part of creation in His image. In our design emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually we reflect the nature of our living God.

We are a representative authority. God delegated his authority over creation to mankind. He didn’t relinquish control, He’s still intimately involved in His creation. But He has placed creation under human authority. We have a God-given responsibility to manage and care for creation.

God made us in His image.

Though born in sin, God fearfully and wonderfully hand-crafted each person.

There’s no need to seek further. Your identity is in The Maker.

 

In what ways are you seeking to build an identity for yourself outside the identity God has already given you? How might you ground your life’s purpose and work in your created identity?

David J. Marsh is author of the novel The Confessions of Adam (Bold Vision Books, 2019) and the study guide A Conversation on Genesis 2-4 (Bold Vision Books, 2020). Visit with him at www.davidjmarsh.com.

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