I got a big fat 'D' on my first paper in college English.
Boy that shook me up, but it set me on a course to master the grammar I should have got down in elementary school.
One of the things I finally learned was the difference between an imperative and indicative mood of a verb.
An imperative verb is a command; an indicative is a statement of fact.
So for example...
When a father says to his son "Your room is a mess," it's a statement of a fact.
But when he says "Clean up your room," it's a command.
I have no doubt my sensitivity to the difference between the imperative and indicative has played a part in me having a special interest in the Bible's dominion mandate.
Because you see...
When I began to spend more time reading the Bible later in college, I couldn't help but notice the passage known as the dominion mandate is full of... get this... imperatives.
Check it out for yourself!
And God said to them, “Be fruitful [imperative]
and multiply [imperative] and fill [imperative]
the earth and subdue [imperative] it, and have
dominion [imperative] over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the air, and over every living
thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)
Now, dear reader, I ask you to get the import of this...
It means...
While the FIRST of the ten commandments is "You shall have no other gods before me" (Ex.20:3)...
And while the GREATEST commandment is 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind' (Mt.22:37)...
The PRIMARY or INITIAL commandment is all about God's image-bearers being fruitful and multiplying and ruling and cultivating the world for Him.
How about that?!
God's earliest command is for us to get dominion.
So go now and use this day and your gifts to faithfully fulfill your part in this glorious mission.
It's imperative!
Get Dominion,
David Bostrom
