Genesis 1
Vs 30 tells us that all creatures were vegetarian. There were no meat eaters. In fact there was no death either, because death was a consequence of sin, and the sin in the Garden had not happened yet, neither had creation rebelled against man like man rebelled against God. It wasn’t until after the flood in Genesis chapter 9 that God put the fear of man into animals and mankind was given animals to eat for food. The garden must have been a very peaceful place. Animals didn’t eat animals and people didn’t eat animals.
So what was dominion? What did it look like?
I have to think that the definition of the word has changed over time. God put Adam in the Garden to dress and to keep it… to take care of the things that were in it. My thought is that if one can dress a vineyard, to dress means taking care of the plants. To keep would be our modern equivalent of being a game keeper, looking after the animals for their benefit and help them when they got in trouble. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and after Cain killed Abel and God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Dressing and keeping are still jobs that please God. He never took that dominion, that responsibility, that protection of His creation away, but I think it’s very likely the definition of the word, “Dominion” has been corrupted.
Today’s definition of the word, “Dominion” has become more like, “Domination”. The exercise of control or influence over someone or something, usually by force. This is not what God intended. They were supposed to care and look after God’s creation, not abuse it.
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