DOMINION NOT DOMINATION

Then God said,” Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have DOMINION OVER… – Genesis 1:26a

DOMINION is about the language and lifestyle of Kings. Dominion belongs to the vocabulary of royalty and authority. Dominion is a kingly and kingdom word! A Kingdom implies the reign and domain of a King. No kingdom; no king. No king; no dominion. The word ‘Kingdom’ (King-dom) actually stands for the King’s Domain: the area or territory over which the king has and exercises authority, responsibility, and rulership. Dominion is the exercise of a king’s authority within his domain. It relates to the office, function, occupation, or work of a King. God made man to be the king over all other works of creation.

It is however extremely important to distinguish between Dominion and Domination. Many people, including believers, mix up the two. God designed man for Dominion, not for domination (Gen.1:26-28). God gave man the scepter and staff of dominion, not the rod or whip of domination. God called humanity to exercise dominion over the rest of creation, not to go about trying to dominate over the lives of others. He never let, “Let us make man to dominate…”! What’s the distinction? Why must the focus of our daily meditations be carefully delineated in the direction of dominion rather than domination?

Dominion derives from divine commission; domination is about carnal competition, slavery, subjection, and subjugation! Dominion is spiritual; domination is carnal and fleshly. Domination means total control. It is the exercise of controlling power or influence over someone or something. Domination comes from the Latin word dominus, meaning “master” or “lord”. The person who exercises such power or control over other people or things would seldom recognize or respect any other higher authority. Domination devalues, demeans and diminishes others. Domination thrives in the realm of witchcraft and occultism.

Domination of one person or group of people by another is never the perfect will of God. God’s Universe is so infinite and His creation so immense that every single human being, and every believer, is a potential king within his or her domain. There is really no rationale for unholy competition or carnal domination. Each of us can exercise our divinely-given dominion in our various spheres of influence. Ethnic nationalities and nation-states need not engage in destructive domination, conflicts, and wars. The Designer of Nations, the Definer of their boundaries, has a unique agenda for each. I pray that all of us, as leaders of our nations will discover our God-ordained destinies and begin to walk in His dominion, in Jesus Name.