20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Here, we note the special place of humans in God’s plan, created in His image and with a unique purpose. We are encouraged to recognize our worth, live responsibly, and reflect God’s image in our daily lives. This understanding inspires a life that honors God’s deliberate and loving creation.
Also, these verses and our reflections on the image of God encourage us to acknowledge the depth of humanity’s fall and the profound loss due to sin. Yet, they also point to the hope of restoration through Christ. We are called to live in the knowledge of God’s original design for humanity and the promise of its full restoration.
Reflecting on God’s creation, rest, and ongoing governance, we are encouraged to trust in God’s ongoing work in the world. Observing Sabbath rest as a celebration of His completed creation fosters a life of gratitude, faith, and hope, anticipating the ultimate restoration of all creation in Christ.
This passage provides rich devotional insights, emphasizing the sanctification of the Sabbath, the primary purpose of human creation for the knowledge and worship of God, and the hope of eternal life. We are encouraged to observe the Sabbath with intentional worship, prayer, and reflection, grounding our lives in the sure hope of eternal life with God. This fosters a deep sense of purpose, gratitude, and hope, continually seeking to glorify God in all actions. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.