Genesis 1:14-27; Psalm 145:14-21

Genesis 1:14-27
On the fourth day, God created the "great lights" in the sky--the sun, moon, and stars. vv-14-19

On the fifth day, "God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird--each producing offspring of the same kind." vv. 20-23

Regarding the sixth day...Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind--livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened...And God saw that it was good."

"Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small, animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them. male and female he created them."  vv. 26, 27

OK, these last two verses give us much to think about! Notice the use of the plural pronouns in v. 26. "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves." Though the Bible never uses the term "trinity," it assumes the trinity just as it assumes the very existence of God.

What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Notice that humans are the only creation of which this is said. I'm sure I don't understand it fully! Charles Ryrie in his study Bible, p. 6, says that "man was created in a natural and moral likeness to God. When he sinned, he lost the moral likeness, which was his sinlessness, but the natural likeness of intellect, emotions, and will he still retains." Another thought that came to my mind is that man is the only creature who has a conscience, the only one who understands moral right and wrong, and the only one who can understand abstract concepts. In other words, man is the only creature who can understand the concept of God and that we are responsible to Him. We can understand that we are sinners who deserve to be punished, that God sent Jesus to take the punishment for us, and that by trusting Jesus, our sins can be forgiven.

Further, humans were a separate creation from the animals. We are not a higher form of animal. God created human beings as a special creation in His own image.

I won't say much about this last point, but you will notice in v. 27, God created them "male and female." From the time of creation, there has been two genders; it's in our DNA, and that cannot be changed. Outward appearances and behaviors can perhaps be changed. Of course we should be compassionate toward people who struggle with confusion in this area as well as in other areas, and we should pray for them. Every individual on this earth is someone for whom Jesus died. Hatred, prejudice, or ridicule are never right toward anyone for any reason. But regarding the truth, this verse leaves no wiggle room, "...male and female he created them."  We have to trust what God has given us in the Bible.

Psalm 145:14-21
Here we see more attributes of God! This is a beautiful and comforting passage.

• "The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads." v. 14
• He gives food as we need it. 15
• He satisfies the hunger and thirst of every living thing.16
• He is righteous in everything he does. 17
• He is filled with kindness. 17
• "The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth." v. 18
• "He grants the desires of those who fear him;" v. 19
• "...he hears their cries for help and rescues them" v. 19
• The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked." v. 20

For meditation:  "I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever." v. 21