Planet of The ApesWeek 2 – Discussion Guide

Genesis 4:1-16

And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds:livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according toits kind." And it was so.

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, thelivestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the groundaccording to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, sothat they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestockand all the wild animals,

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and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he createdthem; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill theearth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and overevery living creature that moves on the ground."

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the wholeearth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Andto all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures thatmove on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every greenplant for food." And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening,and there was morning—the sixth day.

MixersGo around the circle and have each person give his or her nameand favorite part of the zoo.Going Deeper1.) Reread the Genesis story above. What does it mean to becreated in the image of God?

Kick this around a bit but here’s thecultural background…in the Ancient Near East when a king would rulehis land he would place statues and markers made “in his image” as away of reminding the town or village who was in charge there. IN theplace where the image of the king was placed the desires and power of the king were to be exercised. Moreover, these kings (esp. Eygpt’sking) were often considered to be divine. They were God’srepresentatives on earth.

Share this info with your group and now ask. What is theimplication then of the woman and man being made “in theimage of God”?