Part of what I think I’m saying in relation to the Powers as emergent entities is that God ‘graciously’ incorporates them into God’s purposes. This would help to account for some of the language of them being created for particular purposes. I think that there is analogy to be made with the understanding of the image of God put over here:

we need to be aware that our tendency is to think about the imago dei as something we inherently possess, rather than something which is the result of God’s will and intention. This human-centered understanding of creation ought to replaced with a God-centered understanding of creation. The image-of-God texts in Genesis are a theological statement about who humans are: part of creation, but also beings with a particular relationship to their Creator. The image-of-God language in Genesis tells us that humans are one venue for God making Himself known to the rest of creation.

The Powers are not, I’m thinking, inherently God-purposed; ‘inherently’ they derive from human interaction but they piggy-back on God’s purposes for human beings and God, graciously, gives them purpose: to serve the welfare of human beings and the mission of God in and through human beings. In this they gain spiritual identity and significance: the ‘become’ angels: ministering spirits.

I sense I need to work on that insight further, but I think it may be importnant.

via humans, animals and imago dei, pt. 2 at Deep Church.