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Answer
On the sixth day of creation, God created the land animals and the pinnacle of His creative work, humans (Genesis 1:24-31). God’s handiwork was complete at the end of the sixth day. Moses, the author of Genesis, summed up the week of creation with these words: “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array” «Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. », (Genesis 2:1).
Land animals. God commanded land animals into being: “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind” «And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. », (Genesis 1:24). Every animal not created on the previous days was now in existence. The land animals were created according to their “kinds.” Moses records that the animals were grouped into three broad categories: livestock, such as sheep, goats, and cattle; creeping things, such as insects, worms, and reptiles; and the wild animals, such as lions, foxes, and kangaroos. All creatures that live on the earth, including elephants, giraffes, dogs, cats, tortoises, and other land animals were created on the sixth day. “God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw” (verse 25, GNT).
Mankind. When creating man, God took counsel with Himself: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” «And 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 fowl of the air, and overThe cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” , (Genesis 1:26). This is not an explicit revelation of the Trinity, but it provides a foundation for it, as God reveals an “us” within the Godhead. God made man in the image of God (men and women both bear this image) and special above all other creatures. God formed the first man “from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” , (Genesis 2:7). With the rest of creation, God had simply spoken things into existence e.g., Genesis 1:3,14, 20, but God does things differently when He creates mankind. Man is a unique combination of earthly, natural material (dust) and life-giving power from God Himself (the breath of life).
God then placed the first man in a garden to care for it “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” , (Genesis 2:15), and then He says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (verse 18). So God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and He took a rib from the man’s side from which He made a woman (verses 21–22).
God places mankind in authority over the earth and over all the other creatures “And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” , (GGenesis 1:26). God blesses man and woman and commands them to reproduce, fill the earth, and “subdue” it—that is, bring the earth under the rightful stewardship of man as authorized by God (verse 28). God announced that man and all other creatures were to eat plants alone (verses 29–30). God did not rescind this dietary restriction until after the flood (Genesis 9:3-4:)
Scripture indicates that humans are set apart from all other creatures:
• Humans are made in the image of God. Unlike the plants, trees, aquatic animals, birds, and land animals, God set mankind apart as unique by creating humans “in His own image” «So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. », (Genesis 1:27). Being made in God’s likeness does not mean that humans physically look like God, since He is spirit «God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. », (John 4:24). Rather, men and women reflect God in their ability to love «We love him, because he first loved us. », (1 John 4:19), reason «Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. », (Isaiah 1:18), and make intelligent decisions «I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: », (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Deuteronomy 30:19).
• Humanity was uniquely and intimately formed by God (Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 45:12). After shaping man, the Lord personally breathed life into Adam to grant him life. Importantly, God also personally fashioned Eve, using a part of Adam (Genesis 2:21-22).
• Humanity was given dominion over the earth. Following the creation of the first man and woman, God blessed them, granted them dominion over all the animals, and instructed them to multiply «And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:28). Everything in creation was originally perfect and “good” as God intended (verse 31).
• The first humans were commanded by the Lord not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). This command illustrated Adam and Eve’s moral responsibility. They possessed free will and the ability to make moral decisions, unlike the other creatures.
According to His perfect design, God created land animals and humans on the sixth day of creation. As the pinnacle of creation, humans were made to reflect the Lord’s character and attributes in this world. While everything in creation reflects God’s glory to some extent, humanity is unique in being distinctly made in the image of God.
