The fundamental truth about government in the Bible’s worldview and metanarrative is that the one triune God revealed in the Scriptures of the OT and NT is the sovereign ruler from which all authority flows. Whatever man and human governments are, they are not to be confused with god(s)-though some may make claims to that effect. On the other hand, they are not mere usurpers upon the creation. Man is the pinnacle of God’s creation. The psalmist, echoed by the writer of Hebrews in the NT, marveled poetically that God was “mindful” of man at all (Ps 8:4-6 NIV; Heb 2:6-8 KJV); but Scripture affirms human dominion over the earth (Gen 1:28-30; Psa 8:6-8; 115:16).

Government bring order out of the chaos of human interactions in a fallen world. Adam, by design, was created for rule in a complex universe. Eve was created as a “helper” corresponding to him, a term regularly used in the OT with military overtones. She will be “blessed” along with Adam as one who works beside him in the pursuit of God’s mandate for their “rule” and “fruitfulness.” They, together in the stead of all humanity, have the dominion over God’s creation as His vice-regents.

God is Lord, but as creatures who bear His images, we are God’s viceroys. This is polemically designed in the first two chapters of Genesis to assert that all mankind-male and female-rule the creation together. And it is certain that the creation cannot reach its potential in the plan of God without man and woman, for it is less than complete without a human to till the ground.