Dominion

The word 'dominion'  used in Genesis 1:26 and 28 is an interesting word. Words in our culture such as leadership, control, domination, and authority come to mind and relate  to what we perceive the word 'dominion' to mean.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God always wanted man to have dominion over this world. But, alas, man surrendered that dominion even after God had provided a beautiful, idyllic environment to enjoy. We got "dominion" back with Jesus Christ. As you look at 'dominion' in the word, it is quite a bit different from the world's view of 'dominion'. A study of this word tells a beautiful reality.

Man needs the help of God to overcome the pressures and negatives that the world has to offer. However, throughout the historical accounts in the Old Testament, we can read about man establishing his own way. Even religious leaders had problems.  The same is true today what Jeremiah referred to in Jeremiah 5:31 (24th use of the the same word for dominion or rule):

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means;
and my people love to have it so:and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5:31 

Why do people 'love to have it so' ?   People have a tendency toward 'spiritual co-dependency' in two ways.  One is that they'd rather not think about it. Second, they are willing to let someone else think for them in this category. They give over control to someone else. Genesis 3 all over again!

The seventh use of the word for dominion is in Numbers 24:19a:

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,

19 

This is reference to the coming of Jesus Christ who is the source of the dominion we can have today :

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

 Jesus Christ does not lord over us, he IS the Lord and he helps us. In the four gospels his authority is recognized throughout, but he really did not display authoritarian behavior. He presented the truth in a powerful way and gave people a choice.

5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. I Peter 5:1-3

We are not to lord over one another either (see Leviticus, 25:43,46, 53, the 3rd, 4th and 5th uses of the word for dominion). We serve each other as we believe God for ourselves. As we mature in the application of the word in our own lives we really have something to share because we learn a thing or two about God because we've seen a thing or two spiritually.