Man is Uniquely Favored in God’s Creation

I was studying Genesis 1 this morning, and I noticed something I’d not paid attention to before. In Genesis 1:28, the Scripture says that God both blessed and spoke to man. When you read Genesis 1, man was created on the sixth day. Yet, on the previous five days of creation, the only record we have of God saying anything was when he was actually creating through the Word of his power. But, on the sixth day, after God created man, he spoke directly to man where before he had not spoken directly to any other part of creation. Even when he commanded the creatures of the sea to multiply, he wasn’t speaking directly to them, but commanding that an event take place.

As I was reading, I was reminded of Psalm 8 which outlines the Doctrine of Man, and I noticed something interesting there as well. In Psalm 8:3, the verse describes the beauty and wonder of creation and in verse 4 asks the question “what is man that you are mindful of him?” Basically, the psalmist is asking, “how can man compare to this glorious work of your hands?” He answers that question in Psalm 8:5 by saying that man was crowned with glory and honor from God. Notice the connection to Genesis 1:28 in Psalm 8:3-5. Genesis 1:28 says that God blessed and spoke to man. Psalm 8:3-5 says that God is “mindful” of and “crowned” man. These two words directly correlate to Genesis 1:28’s words of “blessed” and “said.”

What all of this says, on a very simple level, is that man has God’s unique attention and favor in the created order. What this also means is that one of the reasons sin is so heinous is that man spurned that divine favor with disobedience and rebellion. Out of all other parts of creation, man received a blessing and favor from Almighty God(God is the greatest and most praise worthy of all beings in the universe, and to spurn that favor is no light thing) at creation that no other part of creation would ever be honored with. No wonder God was angered at man’s rebellion.

But, I must conclude here with the good news. Even though man was originally favored above all other parts of creation, and fell out of favor with God through rebellion, God has sent Christ to redeem man. The cross demonstrates a unique favor that man has in God’s eyes. God did not die to redeem any other part of creation. Christ died for humans. Dogs may not be saved. Trees may not be saved, water may not be saved, but man may be if he repents and seeks God’s forgiveness in Christ. To God be the glory! A-men.