DAY 2: Adam, God's Re-presenter On Earth

Garden of Eden

The Hebrew word mashal translated "rule" in Psalm 8:6 indicates that Adam was God's manager here, God's steward or governor. Adam was God's mediator, go-between or representative.

Psalm 11 vs. 5:16 also confirms this: "The heaven...the Eternal holds himself, the earth He has assigned to men." God didn't give away ownership of the earth, but He did assign the responsibility of governing it to humanity.

Genesis 2:15 says, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it." The word "keep" is a translation of the Hebrew word shamar which means "to guard or protect."  It is the primary word used for a watchman in the Scriptures. Adam literally was God's watchman or guardian on the earth.



Adam was God's representative here. The dictionary defines representation as "to present again."  Another way to say it might be to "re-present" someone. A representative is one who re-presents the will of another. The word also means: "to exhibit the image and counterpart of; to speak and act with authority on the part of; to be a substitute or agent for." 

Now, it's no small task to re-present God. Therefore to help us humans more adequately carry out this assignment, God made us so much the same as Himself that it was illusionary. "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). The Hebrew word for "image" is tselem which involves the concept of a shadow, a phantom or an illusion.

Psalm 8:5 actually says human beings were made just "a little lower than God." God even gave us the ability to create eternal spirits, something He had entrusted to no other creature! Later the same verse says humanity was crowned with God's very own glory.

The definition of the Hebrew word kabowd which is translated "glory" literally means "heavy or weighty"! This, of course, is linked to the concept of authority. He represented God with full authority! He was in charge!

The Greek word for glory, doxa, involves the concept of recognition. More precisely, it is that which causes something or someone to be recognized for what it really is. When we read in Scripture that humankind is the glory of God (1 Cor. 11:7), it is telling us God was recognized in humans.

Adam was comparable to or similar to God-so much like God that it was illusionary. God was recognized in Adam, which meant that Adam "carried the weight" here on earth. Adam represented God, presenting again His will on the earth. Adam was God's governor or manager here. The earth was Adam's assignment-it was under Adam's charge or care. Adam was the watchman or guardian. How things went on planet Earth, for better or worse, depended on Adam and his offspring.

God wanted a family-sons and daughters who could personally relate to Him, and vice versa. So He made our original parents similar to Himself. He put His very life and Spirit into them, gave them a beautiful home with lots of pets, sat down and said, "This is good." Daily He communed with them, walked with them, taught them about Himself and their home.

Shalom,

Rev. Obadiah Swen

Pastor, Bethel World Outreach Church - Virginia