Why God Created Humans

The Bible shows that God prepared the earth especially with humans in mind. Isaiah 45:18 says regarding the earth that God "did not create it simply for nothing [but] formed it even to be inhabited." And he provided the earth with everygthing that people would need not just to exist, but to enjoy life to the full. - Genesis, chapters 1 and 2.

In his Word, God tells of creating the first humans. Adam and Eve, and reveals what he had in mind for the human family. He said: " Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every moving animal that is moving upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26) Humans were to have oversight of "all the earth" and its animal creation.

God made a large, parklike garden in an area called Eden, located in the Middle East. Then he "proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it." It was a paradise that contained all that the first humans would need to eat. And it included "every tree desirable to one's sight and good for food." as well as other vegetation and the many interesting kinds of animal life. - Genesis 2:7-9, 15.

The bodies of the first humans were created perfect, so they would not get sick, grow old, or die. They were also endowed wih other qualities, such as that of free choice. The way they were made is explained at Genesis 1:27: "God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them." Since we are created in God's image , we were given not only physical and mental attributes but also moral and spiritual aspects, and these must be satisfied if we are to be truly happy. God would provide the means for filling those needs as well as the need for food, water, and air. As Jesus Christ said. "man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah's mouth." - Matthew 4:4.

Moreover, God gave a wonderful mandate to the first pair while they were in Eden: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth." (Genesis 1:28) SO they would be able to reproduce and bring forth perfect children. And as the human population increased, they would have the delightful work of expanding the boundaries of the original parklike, paradise area of Eden. Ultimately, the entire earth would be developed into a paradise, inhabited by perfect happy people who could live forever. The Bible informs us that after setting all of this in motion, "God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good." - Genesis1:31; see also Psalm 118:17.

It is evident that humans were to use the subdued earth for their benefit. But this was to be done in a responsible way. Humans were to be respectful stewards of the earth that we witness today is against God's will, and those who share in it are going contrary to the purpose of life on earth. They will have to pay the penalty for that , for the Bible says that God will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth." - Revelation 11:18.


Continued- Next time: Still God's Purpose