Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” — Genesis 1:26
While we are creatures made by a loving Creator, There is something distinctive and unique about a human being compared with the rest of creation. God made us to rule over the animal world. But “rule over” does not mean ruin or abuse! Since creation is part of God’s testimony to himself (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20), we certainly don’t want to ruin or mar that beautiful testimony. Being made in God’s likeness means we want to rule and steward creation with the grace, benevolence, and care God himself uses.