Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Jan 2 2019 - Genesis 1:26-31 – Imaging God

On the sixth day, after creating all the other land animals, God created humankind, male and female, in his own image. As human beings, we are land animals but we are far more than mere animals.

Did you notice the words used by God in these verses, "Let us make mankind in our image." Who is God talking to and why does he refer to himself in the plural, "Let us…"? These words hint at a reality which is more fully revealed later in Scripture. There is only one God; that is the testimony of all of Scripture. But this one God exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is essentially relational – Father, Son and Spirit are bound together in unity and mutual love. That unity is here expressed in a common purpose and in united action, "Let us make mankind in our image."

What then does it mean that we, humankind male and female, are made in the image of God?

Firstly it means that we were created for relationship. It is not the man alone who is created in God's image; male and female together are created in the image of God. You cannot image God alone. You can only reflect the image of God in relationship with other people – in the deep and enduring relationships of mutual knowledge and respect. Indeed, we can only reflect the image of God in relationship with God himself; he does not give his glory to any other but delights to display his glory in and through those who live closely with him. We were made for fellowship with God.

The individualism of contemporary society in which each seeks to do what is pleasing in their own eyes, is a denial of the glorious purpose for which God created us.

Secondly, we image God as we share in his rule over all creation. The God who brings order out of chaos and whose light dispels the darkness calls upon us to partner him in exercising dominion over all that he has made. Exercising dominion like that of God himself excludes destructive exploitation; God loves and cares for all that he has made. Our government of creation must treat the earth and all its creatures as an entrusted gift, as life to be nurtured and enjoyed. Our use of all that is under our dominion is to reflect the creation care of God himself. To do otherwise would be to forsake imaging God in favour of making gods of ourselves.

The German theologian, Gerhard von Rad, expresses this thought as follows: "Just as powerful earthly kings, to indicate their claim to dominion, erect an image of themselves in the provinces of their empire ... so man [sic] is placed upon earth in God's image as God's sovereign emblem. He is really only God's representative, summoned to maintain and enforce God's claim to dominion over the earth. The decisive thing about man's similarity to God, therefore, is his function in the nonhuman world." (Genesis, SCM, 1963, p.58). I have emphasised the last sentence as it challenges us to think afresh about how we interact with God's world. How are we doing at caring for God's world?

Having completed his work of creation, God then declares it all to be "very good." What he has made pleases him and he takes delight in it all.

As those made in God's image, we are to conduct the orchestra of creation so that it may, in every part, reflect the glory of the creator – that creation too may image God.

Glorious God, help us this day to image you in our relationship with others and with the world you have given us. May the glory of your presence and goodness shine from our lives today.

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Jan 2 2020 - Luke 1:26-56 – He ... has lifted up the humble

God is on the move. Elizabeth is now six months pregnant and the angel Gabriel is sent out on another vital mission. This time he is sent to an unmarried girl named Mary to tell her that she too will have a child. Mary finds this puzzling since she is unmarried and a virgin. But Gabriel assures her that the child will be conceived by the power of God’s Spirit at work within her. The child who will be formed within her owes his origin to no human father; he is the Son of God. God is entering into his creation in the form of a helpless babe who will become the King of kings and Lord of lords. At this explanation, Mary responds with the wonderful words of submission, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

But Gabriel has also told Mary that Elizabeth, her elderly relative, is soon to have a child. As soon as the angel has gone, Mary packs her bags and rushes off to visit Elizabeth. Her sight of Elizabeth pregnant confirms all that the angel has told Mary and the two women rejoice together at the wonderful goodness of God and at the remarkable things he is doing in and through their lives. In this child, God is coming to fulfil his promises to Abraham (1:55) – to bring blessing to all the nations of the earth.

Part of Mary's celebration consists of the wonderful song we call "the Magnificat" in which Mary celebrates what God has done and shall do through the children that she and Elizabeth are carrying. The Messiah, the Saviour of Israel and of the world is about to appear. But he will not be born to a royal family in the palaces of Jerusalem. Gabriel was sent to an ordinary young girl in the very ordinary village of Nazareth to tell her that she had been chosen by God to give birth to the one whose kingdom will never end.

In her song of praise, Mary recognises the upside-down nature of the kingdom which God will establish through his Messiah, for it has been made plain in his choice of Mary to be the mother to the one who will be Saviour of the world;

My soul glorifies the Lord
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful
  of the humble state of his servant...
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty. (1:46-47, 49-53)

If we so elevate Mary in our imagination that we fail to see her as an ordinary young girl, we will fail to hear the remarkable good news of the gospel. In Jesus, God has come to bless those who know that without him they have nothing.

But equally, we need to recognise the ready response of Mary to God’s call upon her life. God’s call upon our lives will be very different, but our response should similarly be one of readiness of do God’s will and serve his purposes in the world. 

Father God, thank you for the miracle of the incarnation – the living God come to live among us in a human life just like our lives. Help me to comprehend something of the wonder of the God who stoops to serve that I may recognise the emptiness of all human pride and ambition. May I follow Jesus Christ who humbled himself for me and always be ready to spend myself in his service that I may at last share in his exaltation and glory.

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Peter Misselbrook