Genesis 1:26-27 – "Then Elohim said, 'Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness'. Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim He created him."
Last week we looked at five concepts. They were the concepts of: 1) Creation And Reproduction, 2) Strange Flesh / Mixed Seed, 3) Of One Seed, Species Or Kind, 4) Kinsman Redeemer, and 5) In The Image And Likeness Of. Today we are going to examine further the fifth concept and what it means to be made in the image and likeness of Elohim.
Definitions
Generations – [towlĕdah תּוֹלְדוֹת H8435] means: genetic descendant of, genealogical list of one's descendants.
Likeness – [dĕmuwth דְּמוּת H1823] means: looking like, resembling, having the same appearance or pattern of, fashioned after, having the same similitude, identicalness, or equivalence to.
Image – [tselem צֶלֶם H6754] means: in the same fashion, identical look, having the same appearance as, being a shadow of.
Generations – [towlĕdah תּוֹלְדוֹת H8435]
Genesis 5:1 – "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created man, in Elohim's likeness he made Adam."
The word towlĕdah is used over 30 times in scripture, and refers to genealogies, lists of descendants.
The list of Adam's genetic descendants is given in Genesis 5. Verse 5:3 tells us that Adam begets a son in his own image and likeness. Genesis 6:9 begins the list of Noah's genetic descendants and further tells us that Noah was "perfect in his generations". Being "perfect in his generations" is not a comment on the uprightness or righteousness of his thoughts words, or deeds! First thing Noah did after leaving the ark was to plant a vineyard, make wine, get drunk, and pass out in his tent. Being "perfect in his generations" is simply and strictly a comment on his genetic makeup. Noah's genetics had not been compromised or mixed with the genetics of another species. It is all about the genetics!
Likeness– [dĕmuwth דְּמוּת H1823]
Ezekiel 8:2 – "Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man."
The word dĕmuwth is used over 25 times in scripture, and depicts someone or something that looks like the person or object that it is portraying. It is synonymous with the words tabniyth [תַּבְנִית H8403] mar'eh [מַרְאֶה H4758] and which also mean in the image, appearance, or pattern of.
The menorah has the image and pattern of the heavenly menorah (Numbers 8:4). The tabernacle and the instruments therein are exact duplicates, patterns or images of the heavenly tabernacle and instruments (Exodus 25:9). The four living beings have the appearance of human beings Each also has the appearance of human hands (Ezekiel 10:21).
Elohim's hand grabs Ezekiel by the hair and transports him to Jerusalem. Ezekiel takes a good look at who has done this and the being he sees has "a likeness as the appearance of a man" (Ezekiel 8:1-4). Adam has the likeness, the appearance of Elohim (Genesis 1:26-27)! It is all about looking identical to, having the same appearance or pattern.
Image – [tselem צֶלֶם H6754]
1 Samuel 6:5 – "You shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land."
The word tselem is used over 15 times in scripture, and depicts someone or something that looks like the person or object that it is portraying.
The guilt offerings that the Philistines formed when they returned the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel were made in the likeness of mice and of their tumors – in the appearance and identical look of the things that were plaguing them (1 Samuel 6:1-5). The people enter the house of Baal and tear down the altars and his images (2 Kings 11:18; 2 Chronicles 23:17). The people take beautiful ornaments or jewels and make them into images of detestable things and abominations (Ezekiel 7:20, 16:17). Adam has the image, the identical look of Elohim (Genesis 1:26-27)! It is all about looking identical to, having the same appearance or pattern.
A Few Bold Statements
• Creation and reproduction are all about the genetics,
• Strange flesh and the mixing seeds are all about the genetics,
• Seed, species, and kind are all about the genetics,
• The qualifications demanding that the kinsman redeemer be a male relative of the redeemed are all about the genetics,
• The scriptures describing Noah as "perfect in his generations" are all about the genetics.
• The scriptures about Adam being made in the image and likeness of Elohim and the scriptures about Seth being made in the image and likeness of Adam are not just all about looking identical to or about having the same appearance, resemblance, fashion, or pattern.
• The scriptures about Adam being made in the image and likeness of Elohim and about Seth being made in the image and likeness of Adam have a much deeper connotation and are also all about the genetics. Adam, and human beings, have the same genetic similitude, identicalness, or equivalence to Elohim.
• Paul's writings in the Newer Covenant agree that it is all about the genetics. He states that the natural olive branch is the Jew and the wild olive branch is the gentile. Both are capable of being grafted into the root and trunk of the Olive Tree, who is Yeshua. Notice that Paul does NOT say that the gentiles are a grape branch, or a thorn branch! All human beings are of the same genetic seed, species or kind as the olive tree! Yahweh does not mix seeds!
Conclusions
All five concepts: 1) Creation And Reproduction, 2) Strange Flesh / Mixed Seed, 3) Of One Seed, Species Or Kind, 4) Kinsman Redeemer, and 5) In The Image And Likeness Of are about the genetics. Being in God's image and likeness are not about thoughts, words, or deeds as is the teaching about being his "imagers" or "messengers" because one can read his word and then speak it forth. Being in Elohim's image and likeness are about essence, about looking identical to, about having the same appearance, resemblance, fashion, or pattern, about having the same genetic similitude, identicalness, or equivalence to.
Elohim, Yahweh, Yeshua, human beings are of one kind, one species, one seed, one family! No wonder we look like Elohim, like Yahweh! It is appropriate to visualize Yahweh in a human form. Scripture gives many examples of this, and Yeshua confirms it. How awesome. Indeed, we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). No wonder we look like him! No wonder Yahweh holds us in such esteem and commands us to do likewise. No wonder Yeshua redeemed us. No wonder the angels anticipate the conclusion of Elohim's plan.
Final Thought
Prophecy continues to unfold as foretold by the Hebrew Prophets. Today we are one day closer to the return of Yeshua than we were yesterday and tomorrow we will be even one day closer. For almost two thousand years the Jews would proclaim "Next year in Jerusalem!" I now proclaim "Next Yom Teruah in the clouds!" Time is short – Yeshua Ha'Mashiach is coming soon – get busy reaching the lost.
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