TSELEM - IMAGE

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1: 27 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

We were created in God’s image to resemble God in His glory by following and living our lives according to His ways. We are to be shepherds of this Earth, as God is the Shepherd over all creation. We are to be creative, are meant to live in relationship with others, and know right from wrong. Our sin has distanced us from that, but Yeshua redeemed us. Now we have another chance to become God’s imagers and reflect His glory.

IN GOD’S IMAGE - IMAGO DEI

We are all created in God’s image, as the scripture states in Genesis 1: 27 (NIV). The Latin word for image of God is Imago Dei. Over the years, many have stopped to consider, “Just what does that mean?”

We may mistakenly think it simply means we resemble our Creator physically, but it means much more. (2)

A much better phrase to use is “according to God’s likeness”. It speaks of behaviour and attributes. In all honesty, God is physically speaking nothing like us. (2, 3)

Subby Szterszky said in her article Made in the image of God: What does it mean and why does it matter?, that “He is spirit without a physical body, having always existed, all-knowing, all-powerful, transcending His creation and yet present everywhere and at all times simultaneously.” (3)

So while physically we may not resemble God, we do resemble Him in a wide variety of different ways.

• We are stewards of this planet - we have authority over it.

• Our lives hold innate value.

• personhood - we are persons with a mind, our will, and emotions. God is a person, too.

• We resemble God in morality. Honestly devoid of God, how can we even define what is right or wrong? God framed reality that way so that we would reflect His own moral nature.

• We are as creative as our Creator. We were created to love and be loved. To belong and be in relationship with others. (3)

The Hebrew word for image gives us yet another glance into this concept.

TSELEM

The Hebrew word for image is Tselem. Tselem primarily means image, but can also mean likeness, form, resemblance, phantom, illusion, or shadow. (2, 4)

The Hebrew word shadow tsel, derives from it. Which can be seen as odd at first glance. But at Hebrew word lessons, they make a very good point if you ask me.

“The Hebrew word for shadow (tsel) comes out of the word tselem, and we certainly don’t look like shadows, but our shadow behaves exactly like we do. If we jump, so does our shadow; if we wave, our shadow must wave as well. It is an exact replica, a mirrored image of who and what we are. We don’t look like it, but we behave like it. (2)

In conclusion, we were always called to behave as God does here on Earth, by the level of authority we have been given.

A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER

Yeshua was sent to Earth in the form of a human to redeem us from the sin of image-breaking. He was the perfect reflection of God. He reflected God in all His glory. Because of His sacrifice, we can once again be transformed into God’s image. (2)

On a final note, I would like to share a bible study of a group of women. They were sparked when reading Malachi 3: 3. What does it mean that God sits as a refiner? They decided to observe a refiner of silver and gold at their work. What they found out is astounding. (5)

A refiner puts the silver or gold into the fire to purify it of all imperfections. He needs to keep it inside just long enough that the imperfections are burnt away, yet not too long so that the silver/gold is not damaged. As a result, He needs to sit close to the fire and observe the process meticulously. And how does he know the process is finished? “Easy the man said, when I see my image in it.” (5)

When we become followers of Yeshua, we begin a long and tedious transformative journey, where with each day we come closer to resembling our Father in Heaven.

In the book Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth by Timothy Alberino confirms that through Yeshua we now have the ability to become Sons of God, or rather that we will be once He returns. (6)

CONCLUSION

We were all created in God’s image. The Latin expression imago dei and the Hebrew word Tselem both point not so much to the physical resemblance as they point to our reflection of God in our behaviour and attributes. We are to be shepherds of this Earth, as God is the Shepherd over all creation. We are creative, meant to live in relationship with others, and know right from wrong. We are persons with a will, a mind, and emotions, just like God. Our sins take us away from that, but Yeshua as the ultimate reflection of God’s image, came to redeem us. Now we have another chance to become God’s imagers and reflect His glory.

APPLICATION

Ask yourself during this week in what area of your life God is refining you?

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com

2. Hebrew word Lessons. Tselem: Being IMAGE bearers. Mar 24, 2019. Available at https://hebrewwordlessons.com/2019/03/24/tselem-being-image-bearers/

3. Subby Szterszky. Made in the image of God: What does it mean and why does it matter? Available at https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/made-in-the-image-of-god-what-does-it-mean-and-why-does-it-matter

4. Bible Hub. Tselem. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6754.htm

5. Busy4theLord7. God is a Refiner! Illustration from Silver!!! YouTube channel. Available at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m7B3K3wN2n4

6. Timothy Alberino. Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth. Available at https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B08M83XF8W/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews