“God created man in His own likeness…” (Gen. 1:27)
Is God a man?
In the creation account, found in Genesis chapter one, the creation of man is set apart from all the other aspects of creation by God’s choice to make man in His own image and likeness. What does it mean to be created in the image and likeness of God?
This element of man being created in the image and likeness of God has been interpreted in various ways throughout the ages and has a tremendous impact on how we view both God and man.
The fundamental principles of Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all interpret this principle of man being created in God’s image differently with the greatest division centering on the question of whether or not God can take on human form and whether or not Yeshua is the Son of God who came in human form.
- Islam clearly teaches that God cannot have a son (Surah 6:101), a direct denial of Yeshua as God.
- Judaism teaches that “God has no resemblance or likeness to a physical body and He has no physical being” (Siddur – daily morning prayers). This teaching also negates the possibility of God existing in human form and Yeshua’s claim of being God.
- Christianity and Messianic Judaism teach that God is both physical and spiritual and that Yeshua is the Son of God who took on human form.
There is a very clear verse in the Bible that states that God is not a man (Num. 23:19). This verse states that “God is not a man (“ish”) that he should lie or a son of man (“ben adam”) that he should be sorry/repent.” This is an accurate portrait of the character of God: His inability to lie and His lack of need to repent, since He never sins. This verse in the book of Numbers has more to do with the character of God than whether or not He can or does exist in a physical form.
Who is God?
What does it mean for man to be created in God’s image and likeness?
We don’t need to search far in the Scriptures to find the identical wording that God used in Gen. 1:26 to describe the creation of man in His image and likeness. This same wording is used a few chapters later of Adam and his son. The biblical text literally reads, “When Adam had lived 130 years he brought forth a child in his own image and likeness, and he called his name Seth” (Gen. 5:3). This is the exact same wording used by God to create man. If Adam’s son was brought forth in his likeness and image and we as humans are created in God’s likeness and image than why is it difficult for us to accept God as existing in a body like ours?
A few chapters later there is an appearance of God Himself to Abraham. This incident is found in Genesis 18. God appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18:1), God ate the food that Abraham and Sarah prepared (Gen. 18:6-8), and God talked with Abraham (Gen. 18:9-15). In this same encounter, Abraham and God had a heart to heart discussion about the situation in Sodom and Gomorrah and then God left Abraham (Gen. 18:22-33). God functioned in all the ways that a man normally functions, yet He was still God.
The essence of God cannot be completely comprehended by humanity with all of our limitations (Ex. 33:17-23). We must not put God in a box of our own construction but we should accept Him for who He is and in the way that He has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His written Word.
The diversity and unity of God!
The Bible clearly teaches that God is one: “Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is One!” (Deut. 6:4). God is One! Yeshua taught that He and the Father are One, however, the majority of Jews at that time did not accept His teaching and wanted to stone Him (John 10:30-31).
Those who believe in Yeshua as the Messiah believe that God exists as Father, Son (Yeshua), and the Holy Spirit. This is not three gods but rather one God. This teaching of the diversity and unity of God should not take us by surprise because it is even part of the creation account.
Throughout the Biblical narrative of creation God speaks in the singular person, except in Gen. 1:26. In verse 26 God states, “Let us make man in our image and in our likeness and they will rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the land.” God speaks as a being that is a plurality yet a unity.
Then in the very next verse the Hebrew text switches back to the singular: “And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” (Gen. 1:27)
God speaks in both a plural and singular form in the account of the creation of man. The complexity of God to be able to exist as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a complete unity is what makes Him God. God chose to make humankind in His image and likeness. We cannot limit God to our image and likeness but neither can we deny His existence in a similar manner to our own.
I loved this article and I learned more about GOD.
Carolyn, I’m sure you will learn so much as you read through the Torah Portion weekly. I’ve been doing it for seven years now and learn so much each week that I read and study it.
Shabbat Shalom!
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
I’m very much looking forward to studying the Torah portions from Gen. 1:1 right through the year with your wonderful explanations each and every week. Thank you for providing us with these valuable lessons.
Blessings,
Carolyn