The Sixth Day: Animals and Man (Circumstances and Us)
The Animals
Another set of beings was created on the fifth day --before man came along.
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25)
These animals are representative of the encounters mankind will have in his lifetime: Livestock (easy and predictable circumstances); the ones that move along the ground (those that appear to be small and sneak up on us); and wild beasts (the ones that attack viciously).
He Created Man
First God provided a means for our salvation (yet it did not actually happen until Jesus' death --light, burial --separation, and resurrection --dry ground); the revelation of Himself (the sources of light); good and evil (birds and sea creatures); circumstances to draw us to Him (land creatures). Then --when everything was ready-- He created man in His own image! (He said "Our" --plural-- to emphasize the trinity!)
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:26-28)
Man was created as a being which lives on land; breathes air; and feeds on the provisions of God. This is all symbolic of his need for his life to be grounded on Christ; brought out of physical life into eternal life; indwelled by the Holy Spirit; and fed by the Bread of Life!
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the sixth day. (Genesis 1:29-31)
Further more, God intended for man to live above the circumstances of life --in control (rule over them) of them instead of being dominated by them.