How much is enough?
Considering the meaning of God's command to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth.
Posted
Thursday, April 19, 2007
by
Sam Yeiter
Categories:
Bible
Genesis 1:28 says: God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Have you ever wondered whether or not we have filled the earth? I don't lay awake at night, worrying about this, but I have been preaching through Genesis again, and so I began to wonder, what constitutes filling the earth?
Babel's confusion and the needs of ever-growing populations have caused us to spread to every inhabitable continent. Does this mean we have reached our goal? Can we check this off our list of things God expects of us? Or does he expect us to inhabit the polar caps and the great deserts of the globe? Perhaps we are supposed to be living on the floor of the oceans.
What about population density? Does God have a number in mind? Am I rebellious for wanting 5000 acres to myself (and my ranch-hands)? What was God's intention in giving this decree?
Finally, does this demand have any bearing (pun not intended) on our position on procreation? The only way to fill the earth is through procreation. Have we reached a point where this command does not need to be considered as one thinks about birth control?
Any thoughts? I look forward to the greater lights illuminating my darkness.
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