The 5th and 6th days of creation focus on the creation of animals and humankind. We are told repeatedly that all living things, plants and animals, are created “according to their kinds”. This phrase is repeated 10 times (corresponding with the 10 divine commands in Genesis 1). The point is to establish a contrast. While all other living things are created “according to their kinds,” human beings are set apart by being created according to the divine image. The idea of being set-apart is a crucial theme throughout the Bible. The biblical term for this is ‘holiness’. Holiness does not just refer to moral purity. It denotes ‘transcendent otherness’. God, of course is holy in the most superlative sense, and this superlative is expressed by the threefold repetition, “holy holy holy,” in Isaiah 6:3 (Cf. Revelation 4:8). The Latin-origin equivalent of the word ‘holy’ is ‘sacred’ and this word helps to nuance the meaning implied here in Genesis. Three times it is said that human beings are created in God’s image and the repetition serves to highlight the uniqueness of humans. We are sacred because we are related to, and belong to, God in a special sense. To be sacred means to be set apart for a special purpose. Sacred articles in the tabernacle, for example, could not be used in any way. They were set apart for a special purpose. So it is with us. You cannot just do whatever you want with your life, because you are sacred. This is the foundation for Christian ethics. Treat yourself and others as sacred and you will honour the God to whom we all belong.
Reflect prayerfully on what it means for you to regard yourself and others as sacred.
Read Genesis 1:20-27, Exodus 30:22-29, Leviticus 20:7, 26 and 1 Peter 1:14-16
