Very Good!
James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
(no, I’m not skipping verses . . . I’m speculating that if we can wrap our heads around 18, then 13-15 will become clearer . . . let’s see what happens. 😉
P.S.: This is yet another concept that I’ve read dozens of times without ever seeing it!
“Then God said. . .” Light = good; earth and seas = good; vegetation = good; day and night = good; birds and sea creatures = good; land creatures = good.
Then. . .
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it . . . 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was VERY good.
All creation was merely “good” until Elohim put man, the “cherry,” on top! James refers to us as “first fruits.” A shepherd doesn’t cull his herd to make sacrifices. He uses the first fruits. YHWH didn’t send a lazy nephew to hang on the cross, He sent His ONLY begotten son. First Fruits, the best.
Being in His image made us the only creature fit for a relationship with Him. If He makes us unable to reciprocate His love by injecting distractions and temptations then He’s undermining the very relationship He created us for. This is why God does not tempt us.
Father, thank you for creating us in love. We are awed that You designed us as the completion of Your creation. We walk with You, yet even though we stumble, You continue to love us and lift us up! We praise You YHWH!