The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-01-11
MAN MADE In THE
IMAGE OF GOD
Sunday School Lessen for Jan. 10, 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


In his own image. in the image of God
created he him."-Gen. 1927.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Man as
OF God: v. %; Gen. 81; go; Col. S:iO;
James 49, The offspring of God: Nal.
$40; Acts 1925 2S; Pisa. 1908; l John
81, 2. A little lower than the angels:
Psa. SIS. 6. Made to have dominion: v.
~; Psa. $50. The many places where God
is called our Father. Passages showing
low the moral image may be restored,
as Rom. S:l4; Matt &c., 1 John S2, 10.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 81. $50 God created man" He
formed his body, but he created his
spirit, made in the image of God; he
put into man something that was not
In the world before. "Breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life" This
means more than the inbreathing of
animal life. Seeing that our author
speaks of an inbreathing by God only
I'm the case of man. and not in the case
of animals, it would seem that in it is
meant to consist the specific pre-emi-
nence of man over the animals, that
which in VS.! &c, 81 is called the image
of God; |. e., that by this inbreathing,
affecting man personally, is meant the
communication, not merely of the
physical, but, at the same time, Of the
mental vitality of man, the commune
cation of the spirit. Male
and female created he them," both
alike are made in the image of God,
both alike are his children. How he
made them is told in the second story.
(Gen. 2:1S. 21-24) 1t was mot good
Ell 10 N
the animal creation, not even the high
est ape, was near enough to him to be
his companion and the mother of the
new human race. No man could de-
velop into his best while alone. Either
1t would be necessary to create
woman in the same way as Adam was
created, or in some other and better
way to supply the needed companion.
The Dominion of Man.
V. 2S. And God blessed them" by
giving them children, and dominion,
and noble work, and food. 1t would
be blessing, happiness, to live. The
joy of God himself was bestowed
upon his children. BE fruitful" AS
God delighted in his work of creation
so that "the morning stars sang to-
gether, and all the sons of God shout
ed for JOY" Job 3S:7), so he would
have his children blessed in filling the
earth with people. And have domin-
ion over the fish and
every living thing" These are by ma
ture subordinate to man; and by his
higher nature man would have the
power to benefit the lower animals,
supply them with food and care, and
give them a larger usefulness and a
higher and happier life than they
could have without man. This is true
of all well-cared-for domestic animals
to-day. MANS relation to the beasts
is that of Providence" says George
Adam Smith. And subdue it," Bring
it under cultivation, master all it's
forces, possess themselves of its re-
sources, subject it and all that it con-
tains to their use. This, man is grad
ually learning to do in the advance
ment of knowledge and the progress
of science and the arts. Green.
Marvellous as has been mans con-
troll over the forces of nature, beyond
seer's vision or poets imagination, yet
man has even now attained to but a
small portion of the treasures of his
kingdom, a few grams from the har-
vest, few drops from the measure
less ocean. But as he regains the
image of God, he will gain his domin-
ion over all nature. For it is written
on the history of the world that only
SO fast and far as man becomes filed
with the spirit of Christianity does he
hold dominion over animals, or make
the earth his servant.
vs.. "And God blessed the seventh
day" Made it a blessing to man, one
of the greatest blessings he ever be-
slowed, endowed it with a treasure of
grace flowing forth from the rest of the
Creator" - Delitzsch. "This institu-
ton, though, like other institutions,
capable of abuse, has, nevertheless
operated on the whole with won
derful efficiency in maintaining the
life of a pure and spiritual religion
Prof. Driver, in Hastings Bible Dict.
"And sanctified It," "Hallowed" it.
Set IL apart for sacred uses. Made II
holy day, taken out from among the
common days, and devoted to God.
having a special relation to a holy
God.
Some such institution was essential
TO the moral and religious develop
ment of man, the means of cultivating
his higher nature, and, hence, to the
best progress of his civilization
physical and mental.
The two great essential foundations
of mans progress and true prosperity
were ordained at the very beginning,
the family and the Sabbath. These
two primeval institutions. kept sacred
and wisely used, are the remedy for
most of our social and moral evils.
The Sabbath is the opportunity for
caring for the spiritual nature, the
highest and noblest part of man.
Practical Points.
The same God who breathed life