Initial Blessing

In the last lesson, we reflected on God's blessing in Creation.

A very short while later, in Genesis 1, we read about the creation of humanity:

"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.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them."

This is a passage with many implications, but I particularly want us to notice that as soon as God created the first humans, God blessed them. The first act of the Creator, upon making us, was to bless us.

That raises the question: what does it mean to be blessed by God?

At a minimum, it means that God has a good intention for us. God loves us. God wants us to know him and to delight in the life he has given to us. I'm reminded of the famous blessing in Numbers 6:

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

From the very moment of our first existence, God's intended to bless humanity. This should encourage our hearts.

We didn't have to prove anything to God. We didn't have to accomplish anything. God created Adam and Eve - and instantly, immediately, his first action was to bless them.

What is God's true heart for us? It is to bless us. It is all a gift. Here is the gift of existing. I will honor you and allow you to bear my image. And as my image bearers, you are blessed.