And Behold, It Was Very Good

Introduction: “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Psalm 8

Four important distinctions between the created material world and mankind.

“Let there be” to “Let us make man”

Pivot from the impersonal to the personal, from the special to the unique special

“According to their kind” to “In His image and likeness”

Image of God was reserved for a Pharaoh or king

Everyone else was seen as lower value and dignity

Image of God is assigned to every human being everywhere.

“Be fruitful and multiply” to “Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion”

This is the first great commission. Exercising royal rule over the earth is the basic purpose for why God created us (mentally, morally, and socially).

“According to their kind” to “male and female He created them”

Male and female He made them. That’s it. There is no “each according to their kind” differences. Only after the fall are distinctions and divisions made among the human race.

God’s final assessment: “And He saw that it was good” to “And behold, it was very good!”