Be Fruitful and Multiply

We are currently participating in a Bible study covering the covenant of redemption. Tonight's discussion centered around man being made in God's image and God's desire for man to be fruitful and multiply. After Peggy's post yesterday, this study was timely for me.


Genesis 1

27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them. 28And God blessed them.
And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it
and have dominion over .....

Two things were noted from the above verses:
1. Mankind was made to be "imagers" of God
2. Mankind is commanded to be fruitful and multiply



Genesis 6

1When man began to multiply on the face of the land.... 5The LORD saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And the LORD was sorry
that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

It was then noted in Genesis 6 that God was sorry after man began to fulfill the command to multiply. Why is this? He is sorry because man's thoughts are evil continually. So, men were multiplying enemies of God.



Genesis 9

1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

After leaving the Ark, Noah is told to be fruitful and multiply. God's desire for man to fill the earth has not ceased. His anger and wrath from previous chapters was a result of man's wickedness and in multiplying that wickedness.

God desires His imagers to be fruitful and multiply. He desires His people to teach those under our care to know Him. Remember that both believers and non-believers are being fruitful and multiplying and it is a great privilege to raise children in God's truth.