Genesis 1:28

"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 1:28

Now that God created mankind, he is giving them their job, to rule the earth and everything in it.  Here the word subdue is said that this word implies that nature is inherently hostile so man must force it to our will, otherwise the harshness of it would lead to death.  The verse is paraphrased to read this way: “Be fruitful and have children, filling the earth with your life so that you can have power to fight against everything in it that leads to death.  Rule with care and fairness over the natural world, over the myriads of My beautiful creatures - from tropical fish to soaring eagles to dogs and cats – every creature that is a part of this living world.” It goes right along with the idea of good stewardship – taking care of what you are given.