Re:Verse reading–Genesis 9:1-17 (day three)
“Spread out over the earth and multiply on it.” It seems that more than mere sexual function lies at the heart of this mandate. We are not only biological, but also intellectual and spiritual and social beings. God did not say, “Love everybody”, but rather, “Love your neighbor”. God did not say, “Honor a person on the other side of the world”, but rather, “Honor your father and your mother.” We find it easy to love the idea of people, but hard to love actual people. It’s how we live with people close by that will make ours a flourishing society—or not. God commands us to grow more than just the population. Servanthood and reconciliation and patience and humility must also increase. And that only happens over short distances.
