Power and Authority: The Biblical Call to "Subdue" and "Rule" | Genesis 1:28
- Dr. Shalini Jebasingh
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Endowed with Power and Authority For a Purpose
God has given all of us power and authority to fulfill a responsibility: to represent God in caring for each other and our world, just as God cares for us and His world.
Genesis 1:26 tells us that God created us in His image to be His representatives. In Genesis 1:28, He tells us what it means to represent Him. Put another way, in Genesis 1:26, God gave us our job title, “God’s representative” (see previous blog). Soon after that, He gave us our job description.
In Genesis 1:28, “God said… Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over… every living creature.” The Hebrew word for subdue is kabas, which means just that, to subdue or bind down. The Hebrew word for rule is rada, which means to govern or exercise rulership. These are very harsh words, and many people take them as permission to exercise dominion, coercion, or excessive control over others. But that is the opposite of what the Bible teaches.
As God’s representatives, we are called to use power and authority the way God uses His. This means we are to take care of each other and the world as God would take care of us and His world.
The Biblical Meaning of Power and Authority
The very next chapter in Genesis helps us understand what biblical leadership looks like. In Genesis 2:5, we read that there was no one to till the ground. The Hebrew word used here is abad, which means to labor, serve, work, or do work for another. Then in Genesis 2:15, God places man in Eden “to till it, and to take care of it.” Again, the same word abad is used. The word for care is samar, which means to keep, protect, and guard. This is the real meaning of ruling and governing. Biblical power and authority is rooted in caring or tending, guarding, and protecting.
What We Are Called to Subdue
The word kabas, subdue, is often used in the context of military victory, but in daily life it is beautifully expressed in Micah 7:19: “You, God, will subdue our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean.” This gives us a practical lens for understanding our responsibility. What we are called to bind down daily is wrongdoing. When we see oppression, injustice, abuse, or harm, we are called to stand up for what is right and bind down what is wrong, whether in harmful behavior, unjust systems, toxic workplace cultures, or even destructive patterns within ourselves.
Biblical power and authority is rooted in caring or tending, guarding, and protecting. Using power and authority as God uses it.
The True Nature of Rule
The word rada, or rule, comes again in Psalm 72. Speaking of Solomon, it says, “May he rule from sea to sea.” But then it explains what that rule looks like.
He is to rescue the poor,
Help the oppressed, defend those who have no one to defend them, and
Show compassion to the weak and needy.
The life of every human being is precious. Treat others with care.
Why?
Because their lives are precious.
This is what the Lord requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
This is the kind of rule God desires from each of us.
Jesus Christ Modeled How We are to Use Power and Authority
The clearest example of caring, loving, and protecting was shown by our Lord Jesus. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians:
Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
This is the biblical model of power and authority.
The Misuse of Power in the Workplace
Unfortunately, many workplaces reflect the misuse of power and authority. Instead of serving, caring, and protecting, some people use their power and authority to dominate, manipulate, exploit, and harm others. Sometimes this is obvious, and sometimes it is hidden and subtle. When such behavior goes unchecked, the workplace becomes toxic.
The intentional misuse of power and authority in the workplace is seen all over our world.
I have also seen that trauma can deeply affect our ability to care for others. When our nervous system is impacted through PTSD, depression, or prolonged stress, it can reduce our capacity to serve those around us. This is especially difficult for leaders whose teams depend on them.
The dysregulated use of power and authority as an outcome of trauma, burnout, or grief is also experienced in workplaces the worldover.
I will explore this more deeply in an upcoming post.
Expressing Godly Care at Work
Biblically, to rule or govern means to secure the well-being of others. If you are a farmer, your work secures people’s well-being. If you are a computer programmer, your work secures people’s well-being. Whatever profession you are in, your work is ultimately meant to contribute to human flourishing. Every profession can become an expression of godly care.
Biblically, to rule is to secure the well-being of others. Biblical Rulership
Three Checks for Using Power and Authority Well
There are three checks we need to have to represent God in how we use our power and authority:
Always be aware of how you show up at work. The guiding principle is simple: love others as you love yourself. We must be conscious of the way we bring ourselves into every interaction.
Lean towards justice and fairness. Use whatever influence, position, or collective authority you have to help build a fair work culture. Justice is everyone’s responsibility.
Cultivate wisdom and discernment. In Proverbs 2:9, we read that God helps us understand what is right, just, and fair. We need wisdom to know what needs to be subdued, what needs to be cared for. Using power and authority the way God wants us to always requires discernment.
A Practical Example of Godly Leadership
I want to close this blog with the example of Patricia McDonald.
In 2009, she learned that Intel planned to shut down its Hillsboro, Oregon plant, which meant that over 1,000 employees would lose their jobs. She was instructed to keep the news confidential, but she was filled with concern and compassion for her team. She chose truth and transparency. She shared the news with everyone.
Then she led them with wisdom. Her strategy was simple: continue the work, but as a team, make finding jobs for every employee a high priority. They became their own placement center. They helped one another, referred one another, and served one another sacrificially. At the same time, they completed all the tasks required by Intel’s home office. This is what it looks like to use power and authority with wisdom and discernment.
Our Calling As God’s Children
God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us use power and authority as He does. We are called not to control, but to help others live fulfilling lives. So whether you lead from above, beside, or below in an organizational structure, use your influence to build others up. Serve, care, protect, and build others up, whether it is your boss, co-worker, or direct report, just as you would want them to.
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