Journeying in Genesis: Dominion Redeemed

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it,

and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens

and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28b

Reading through creation, we see that what God does is wondrous and good. It highlights that in the world today something is terribly wrong. God gave man dominion, but he then gave it to Satan through rebellion. Praise God that’s not the end of the story! There was already a plan in place to restore order. Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He laid down His life, rose again, and defeated death and sin as He took on the punishment for the sins of the world.

In a stunning move of grace, these humans who for their own pleasure invited treachery into creation, are given opportunity through Christ to once again have dominion, freedom, and right relationship with the Creator. Scripture tells us that in the new heaven and new earth, those in Christ will reign with Him. Dominion restored to the glory of the Creator!

This age is still in a fallen state as souls have opportunity to come under the righteous rule and glorious freedom of Christ, or remain slaves to sin. Romans 8 tells us that creation itself groans as we wait for that ultimate redemption at the end of the age.

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9b-10