Man’s Dominion, Authority, and Responsibility

Man’s Dominion, Authority, and Responsibility

Genesis 1:28. Reading the Scripture through the mind ruled by the senses, we have overlooked the tremendous place man held in the heart of God. He was the object of the Father-God’s love and affection. It was the joy of the Father to give His man dominion over the works He had created. This man had, by creation, the ability to rule the universe. Psalm 8:3-9 is a revelation of the creation of the first man as the Father-God desired him to be and to live.

Palm 8:5, “Made him but little lower than God.” The King James Version reads “angels,” but the correct translation is “God.” The Hebrew word is “Elohim.” It is the same word that is used in Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God' (orElohim’).” The thought of the Hebrew is “just a shade lower than God.” Man was created as nearly like the Father-God as was possible.

Man was to be God’s companion and underruler. His dominion reached to the utmost star and planet. His dominion was as far-reaching as Christ’s rule shall be when He shall take over the dominion of the universe. Hebrews 2:5-8 is a revelation of Adam’s dominion. Hebrews 2:8 (last clause) reveals that man no longer holds that dominion (American Standard Version). Hebrews 2:9 shows that the lost dominion of Adam has been given to Christ, by virtue of His sacrifice on man’s behalf.

Hebrews 1:3 gives to us a suggestion as to the way Adam ruled God’s creation. Jesus now upholds all things by the Word of His power. Adam ruled creation by his word. His voice was like the voice of his Creator in its dominion over creation. Adam possessed such complete authority over creation that he had in his hands the legal right to confer that dominion to another being. In our next lesson we shall see that he did this very thing.