20God said, “Let the seas be filled with living things. 
Let birds fly above the earth across the huge space of the sky.” 21So God created the great sea creatures. He created every kind of living thing that fills the seas and moves about in them. He created every kind of bird that flies. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them. He said, “Have little ones so that there will be many of you. Fill the water in the seas. Let there be more and more birds on the earth.” 23There was evening, and there was morning. It was Day Five. Genesis 1:20-23
In the first 5 days God created a wonderful place for birds and fish. He made a place for them to live, air for them to breathe, food, the sun for their days and the night for them to sleep.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a says He has made everything beautiful in its time.
24God said, “Let the land produce every kind of living creature. Let there be livestock, and creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals.” And that’s exactly what happened. 25God made every kind of wild animal. He made every kind of livestock. He made every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24, 25
Verse 25 tells us that “He made every kind of creature that moves along the ground.”
Biologists have identified and described over 2 million species of animals on the earth. They believe there may be between 5-10 million! That’s a lot of animals!!
And after God saw all He had made, He said it was good!
Think about the creativity it takes to create that many different animals. They look different, act different, eat different things, and serve different purposes! What a creative God we have!!
As you go through your day, take time to notice as many different creatures as you can!! Thank God for His amazing creation!!
26Then God said, “Let Us make human beings so that they are like us. Let them rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the livestock and all the wild animals. And let them rule over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27So God created human beings in His own likeness. He created them to be like Himself. He created them as male and female. 28God blessed them. He said to them, “Have children so that there will be many of you. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Rule over every living creature that moves along the ground.” Genesis 1:26-28
Yes! Human beings! You and me!! All along God has had a perfect plan in place. He made a perfect world for His BEST creation: YOU!!
What do you think it means to be created in God’s likeness, to be made like God, Himself?
Think of some of God’s characteristics:
God is love—He has given us the ability to love;
God is kind—we have the ability to be kind to others;
God is creative—He has gifted many to be able to create other things from what He has created (for example: God created wheat. From wheat man makes flour, bread, cereal, etc. God created cotton. From cotton man makes thread, cloth, clothing, rugs, tapestries, etc.)
What did God want man to do?
One person said, “Humans are to be God’s representatives, ruling creation as God would rule it.”: Fairly, with love, protective, keeping it clean, making sure everything can reproduce, providing food, providing exercise.
God is the amazing Creator, Who has entrusted us to rule over all of His amazing creation! A big responsibility that each of us needs to do our part.
Thank God for having a great plan to make the earth a beautiful place to live!