Origin Story #7 of 21:

So God created humankind in his image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (Gn 1:27)

Since the first sentence of our origin story, “created”, that big word for God’s unique doing has been lying low. Instead, we get a rather human word: “made” as in “God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night” (vs 16). This making has the sense of God working with the dark, chaotic watery brew to make something out of it—to bring it into an order that is fitting for the wonders of living creatures. It’s the work of his Word. His speaking forth has a way of bending the chaotic void into his will and purposes. It’s the work of putting into place a world that is fit for abundant life. When life comes forth, our big God word “created” comes back into play. When humankind makes its appearance God’s big word is repeated three times in rapid succession:

            God created humankind in his image,

            In the image of God he created them;

            Male and female he created them. (vs 27)

The Creator creates a creature that bears his image. The sudden barrage of these “created” words gives us a sense that something extraordinary is taking place. A unique creature that bears the Image of God.

There’s much to surprise us here. Let’s start with “image”: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,” is the first commandment. And yet, God creates an image of himself. As if God knows we need some image—some hint of who he is and what he is like. It’s not the real thing, but a clue to the Eternal. This is God’s idea of how he is to be imaged. This is that singular part of creation which best discloses something of the Creator. Any graven, fixed image of this Creator is a fraud. God is not imaged in anything fixed. The Creator’s image is best seen in the voice and freedom of the human person. Eventually, further along in our Gospel Story, we come to Christmas morning, when we celebrate the One who is “The Image of the invisible God”.