God has shown his greatness in creation. He made the universe so that it praises his glory again and again. God is far greater than his creation. He is far above anything we see and know, yet he created this world so that he could share himself with us. Listen to some of the words God spoke through his prophets about this:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Prophet David, (Psalm 19.1-2)
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 66.1-2
Be holy, because I am holy. Prophet Moses, Leviticus 11.45
Since we are created in the image of God, he shows part of who he is through us. Part of God’s presence and power are in us. God put in us the ability to have some of his character and his morality. We have the ability to bring light and blessing to all around us. We are able to use the ability he gave us to bring all things into submission to the will of God. This is one reason why it is so important that we never treat anything in creation like it was God. He is forever far above all that he created. No part of creation can be made equal with God. However, he does speak to us with his creation in ways that do not weaken his holiness or his power.
God wants man to enjoy friendship and closeness with him and other human beings. We see in Genesis chapter two that God created a special garden as a home for Adam and Eve (Hawa), the first man and woman. He also purposely created the woman from the side of the man (with a rib bone) to show that man and woman are of the same special nature. They both have a special relationship with God and with one another.
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2.18-24
We can say that God created all things to show his power, his glory, and his will. These glories of God are best seen in his special friendship with mankind. From the beginning, he had a very special role for people to fulfill. He uses mankind to make himself known to his creation so that everything and everyone might praise him. This mighty creation in all of its perfection and wonder is merely a work described as “finger work” for God, something small for him.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Prophet David, Psalm 8.3-4
It was a simple thing for God to do, yet we are amazed at how wonderful this world is:
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. Psalm 111.2-4
God formed man from the dust of the earth and then breathed life giving breath into him (Genesis 2.7). The breath of God is in us and this makes us special. We have the duty to seek to know God and worship him in truth. We also show respect for God’s power, glory, and mercy by living the way he wants us to live. We fulfill the work he gives us to be caretakers (kalipha) of the creation by seeking his will for our world.