Why are humans here?
There are typically two types of answers given: a religious one and a science one.
The “scientific” answer is that we evolved from a type of primate and basically survived to make it to where we are. The religious answer is very different.
On one hand, some try to harmonize these answers. Can we be both? Can we be both primates that survived and living souls made by our creator?
At a glance, we might say, “Yes.” But any attempt to harmonize the Biblical answer to humans’ existence with modern science requires changing some key information in the Bible.
Most notably, death. Evolution needs death to work. But death wasn’t a part of creation. Death doesn’t happen until Genesis 3.
Also, the “scientific” answer can’t address our purpose on this planet. If we’re just primates who evolved, what right do we have to do anything to this planet? We’re just another animal.
This is another problem that Scripture doesn’t have. Genesis 1:28-31 provides the purpose of humanity.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:28-31
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
New International Version
The blessing at the beginning of our passage (verse 28) can’t be overemphasized. The theme of “blessing” is central to the rest of Genesis and the entire Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy).
The Lord’s blessing was the continuation of humanity. We were blessed with reproduction, expansion, and development. The Lord defines part of this specifically as dominion over creation. We are not equal to creation; we are over it. We are to function as stewards over it. And we are to use it.
Verses 29-30 teach us that humans, birds, and land animals are all herbivores. This perfect world provided all the nutrition living creatures needed.
How were humans to subdue creation? At this point, it was perfect, yet this is part of the blessing of the Lord given to humanity. In Hebrew (the original language of Genesis), the word means to bring into bondage or subservience. We attached emotion to that word, but it shouldn’t be negative.
We’re not to subdue other humans; we are to subdue creation. It was given to us by the Lord. Part of what science can do is discover all the little secrets the Lord has put into creation. Science doesn’t have to be anti-faith, and faith certainly shouldn’t be anti-science.
Subduing and ruling over creation means we can explore, experience, and investigate. It’s an open invitation from the Lord to solve some mysteries.
It’s so easy for us to swing to extremes regarding science and faith. Until fairly recently in human history, science was viewed as a way to discover how the Lord created the universe. Science was an act of worship of the Lord. Exploration was seen as a type of divine gift.
But at this point in Genesis, the sixth day of creation is ending. All kinds of creatures have been made—including us humans. There was no animosity. There was no death. There was no sickness. In the words of Scripture, “It was good.”
So explore, investigate, and experience the creation of the Lord. It’s a gift. It’s a responsibility. It’s a way we can center our minds and hearts on our amazing Lord.
Life Meets Theology 