Created to Rule

One of the major differences in Genesis 1-2 and the Babylonian accounts of creation is man's purpose.

• Mesopotamia: humans were created to serve the gods. The Babylonian and Assyrian gods were largely a group of lazy good-for-nothin's. The older gods wanted "peace and quiet" (like old people) but the younger gods wanted to party like it's 1999. This led to a conflict where Apsu, the oldest male god, wanted to destroy the lot of the little whippersnappers. Apsu, however, was killed instead and his wife, Tiamat, sought vengeance. She met her match in the young Marduk who killed her and used her corpse to create the cosmos. The rebellious gods who served under Tiamat were forced to perform menial tasks that soon became unbearable. Since work stinks, the gods didn't want to do it. Thus, they created created man en masse to do the work for them (do these gods seem to be a lot like humans to you?).
• Israel: God created man to rule (Gen. 1:26-27). Yes, God required Adam to take care of the Garden, but the similarities end there. Man's work in Genesis 1-2 is not merely because God didn't feel like picking the okra or sprinkling Sevin-dust on the leaves to deter bugs (it wasn't THAT kind of garden anyway!). Instead, God was giving Adam power and authority. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4).

This sheds light on what the Apostle Paul said:

Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal god for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (Romans 1:22-23, emp. mine).

What does this mean for us now? Nothing....because sin mucked everything up, cursing both man and the earth (Gen. 3:16-19). I do not believe that sin is inherited and that we are cursed in that sense (Ezek. 18:20), but you can't deny that sin has messed us up. We're not what we're supposed to be. However, this power and authority will be restored eschatologically. 

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided that we suffer with him in order that we also may be glorified with him (Romans 8:16-17)

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him (2 Timothy 2:11-12).

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne (Rev. 3:21)

I wonder if the "ruler over many things" idea in the parable of talents is connected with this (Matt. 25:21, 23). I wonder even more about how this could play into that troubling verse, "the leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2). What nations? Ones that we rule over, perhaps?