Monday, May 30, 2022

Richard D. Draper on the Proper Interpretation of God's Command to Adam and Eve

  

What is the proper interpretation of God’s command to Adam and Eve? In addition to the commission to fill up the earth with their offspring, Adam was given the position of lord and master over it. This delegated position essentially made him the caretaker for the Lord’s creation. Thus, Adam was Michael, the name meaning “he who is God.” Adam bequeathed the same powers to his children. But, as the words of the Bible uses show, dominion could take two forms. This seems very fitting, because God put us here as a rest to see how we could use His powers and respond to the earth. This freedom allowed individuals to show to themselves and their fellows, and to God and His witnesses, just how they would behave when entrusted with the powers of procreation and of dominion. Those who violate the earth and others, who disregard and oppress nature, will find themselves forever banned from the powers of both creation and procreation. On the other hand, those who cherish the earth and subdue it with their own sweat and love, and strive to fill it up, will possess both powers forever (Hugh Nibley, “Man’s Dominion,” New Era, October 1972, 24-28). The promise was that if Adam and his posterity took care of the earth, the earth would respond with her bounty. Obedience to God’s laws assured Adam that he would subdue and rule over the earth in a proper manner, with everyone benefitting. Obedience guaranteed he would not harm but rather would cherish and better that which God had given him. (Richard D. Draper, “Institutes of Biblical Law,” in The Ten Commandments For Today, ed. John G. Scott [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 11)