So God created human beings in His own image - in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. This verse has become increasingly important to me as I think about what it means to bear the image of God. The image is not contained in one individual alone, and significantly it is not contained in one gender alone. Both male and female together reflect the image of their Creator. There is something about relationship, difference, and complementarity that is necessary to even begin to show what God is like. God Himself exists in relationship - Father, Son, Spirit - and the first human community of two reflects that. Whenever I am tempted to diminish or dismiss someone because of their gender, this verse corrects me. The image of God requires all of us.
This is so encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to write it out.
Great insight. I'd add that the Greek text here suggests an ongoing action, not a one-time event. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.