A reflection on the creation account found in the Book of Genesis

In the version of the Creation story told in the first chapter of Genesis, God is quoted as saying to the ancestral humans he had created, ‘Go forth and multiply’ (verses 27 and 28, Authorised version). There are differing views within Christianity about whether this creation story should be taken as an inspired factual account, or as an inspired imaginative attempt by the early Hebrews to make sense of the world. In either case, the phrase ‘go forth and multiply’ remains.

The word ‘multiply’ also occurs in verse 22 in relation to sea creatures and birds. It is not specifically used in relation to other land animals. It seems likely that the word ‘multiply’ was intended to indicate the intended flourishing presence of human and other life forms on earth through natural processes. It made sense in the intellectual context of the world of the Old Testament in which Gensis was compiled and edited.

In the story, mankind is fitted into a world order, and given responsibility towards it. That responsibility is included in the word ‘dominion’. But humanity has now multiplied out of all proportion in relation to the other animals, plants, waters and land which feature in the story. 

It seems significant that the story does not say ‘Go forth and multiply indefinitely, exponentially, recklessly, selfishly, greedily, carelessly, thoughtlessly’.

It does not say ‘have dominion over the earth to the point where the impact of your presence means its resources approach exhaustion and the very survival of your fellow-creatures and yourselves is threatened’.

Jesus urges us to love our neighbour. St Francis recognised that this includes the whole of creation. Let us think, pray and with God’s help seek to live and act accordingly.