In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:4: The key teaching of the first creation story in Genesis is not how or when God created the earth, but that it was God who created it, and that creation belongs to God. The verses which imply that humanity should have "dominion" over creation or "subdue" creation do not mean we are to disrespect or exploit creation, but rather, were written in an ancient context that understood that the wilderness could be hostile to survival. The ancients would have found our pattern of exploiting creation to be blasphemous.