1:29-30 - Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
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To the gifts of blessing, mandate of procreativity and dominion, God now adds the gift of providence. One of the missing jewels in the crown of the Church is the 'theology of food.' Food has always been the number one priority in any society; no nation will embark on anything else unless and until they have secured their rice-bowl or bread-basket. Food, either by its lack or by the gluttony of its abundance, have been the downfall of nations after nations. Important as it is, however, the task of providing such, and sufficient amount of such, foods have always been relegated to the bottom ranks of society, the lowly despised peasants. Here in Genesis God takes the task to himself. Here is a wonderful and theologically significant picture of God we so often, and tragically, miss; He is God the Servant. Serves though He does, however, God is no slave. He serves because He is the Father. It is what Fathers do.♦
Jesus, more than anyone else, reminds us to look at the birds of the air, which do not sow or reap or store away in barns, "and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:26). Though speaking more specifically of the gift of the Holy Spirit the heart of the Father who provides is captured in Jesus' question, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk 11:11-13).
Here is a reminder too to throw out our misguided adventure to do pious biology with the text, to use it to defend our brand of biogenesis. Gen 1 calls us rather to the liberty of living in the shadow of the Almighty, whose arms are always open to embrace us, whose hands are always ready to take us into its hollow so that He might love us. Embrace in that love we rule with dignity and faithfulness all that He has so wonderfully made.
You may wish to read the following commentaries-expositions:
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, 2016