"Let Us Make"

     In Genesis 1:26 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

     In Genesis 11:3-4 we read, “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’  And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar.  The they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

     After God made man He blessed him and told him to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (1:28). This command was repeated to Noah and his sons after the land dried enough for them to leave the ark (Genesis 9:1). One reason God created man was for him to fill the entire earth and subdue it.

     By Genesis 11 we see man deciding that he did not like God’s command and choosing to do the exact opposite of what God had said. God told man to fill the earth and subdue it. Man responded that he did not want to be dispersed across the whole earth but would rather make a name for himself. God said go. Man said, “Not only will I not go, I am going to build a great city and dwell there.” God said fill the earth. Man said, “Not only will I not fill the earth, I’m going to build a massive tower that reaches up into the heavens.” God said subdue the earth. Man said, “Not only will I not subdue the earth, I will locate in a single place and make a great name for myself in the process.” When God said, “Let us make,” He did so for the purpose of creating man and blessing him tremendously. When men said, “Let us make,” he did so in rebellion against God with a selfish arrogance and a desire to become great.

     God says many things today and receives a similar response from men, often even His own people.  God says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Man says, “No. He got himself into this mess and he can get himself out.” God says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Galatians 4:26). Man says, “No. He upset me in the past and I’ll hold a grudge against him for years to come.” God says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted…” (Galatians 4:32). Man says, “No. I don’t have time for the needs and feelings of others.” God says, “Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… (Hebrews 10:24-25). Man says, “No. There are times when I’d just rather do other things.” God says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Man says, “No. I don’t like the person employing me so I’ll show him by doing lazy, shoddy work.” God says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16a). Man says, “No. I’d rather fill my heart with the things of the world.” 

     We each offer our own “Let us make” statements every day of our lives. Through our thoughts and actions we say, “Let us make ourselves according to the desires and wishes of God, conforming more to the example of His Son”, or “Come, let us make ourselves more like the world we inhabit. Let its values and passions become our own.” This is part of the process of working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  Or…not.

     Man has the liberty to tell God “no” during this life. If that’s his choice then God will answer in kind when that man pleads for Heaven (Romans 2:6-8). But God made man specifically to bless and save him. Let us make ourselves the kind of people in whom our God delights (Psalm 1:1-3).