July 20th, 2021 – Very Early Tuesday Morning
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” ~Genesis 2:7
There are so many applications or shaping perspectives that could come from this verse, but let us focus on just one: The LORD God breathed life into man. This verse is pretty straightforward; God formed man (Adam) from dust, breathed into his nose, and man became alive. However, when we pause and look at this passage and the creation account in general, there is one notable difference between the creation of man and the creation of animal: We are only told that the LORD breathed life into man, not into or onto animals or anything else. This is not to say that the breath of life wasn’t in all air-breathing creatures; rather, we are only told about man being the one whom God literally breathed into.
Why is this notable? What’s the big deal if God breathed life into man? First, as has been outlined previously, man is a special creation in that we bear the image of God. The attention is not on the majestic mountains, deep oceans, trees, birds, flowers, dogs, cats, fish, etc.; no, the attention is on God and man. This verse seems to echo that same idea as man is formed and then breathed into (in verse 19 the animals are formed, but nothing is said of God breathing life into them). Second, the essence of what this verse says makes it notable; God breathed life into man. God, the LORD, the Self-Existing One, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, breathed life into finite, tiny, and precious man. Just as the reality of being His image-bearers ought to cause us to stop alive in our tracks, so too this understanding of receiving life from Him should put the brakes on.
You are alive. You have been given life. You are loved and cared for by the God who put His breath in you. Your life matters. Your life is precious and valuable. Your life can and should have purpose. If your identity is found in Christ Jesus, you have received spiritual and eternal life, a deep purpose, and life more abundantly. Listen! We are alive because of the LORD God; we are living because He has given us life. It is not our life to do as we please, but His that He has entrusted to us.
What are you doing with this life? Are you living it with His power, love, self-control, and purpose? Are you investing it carefully in His eternal storehouse? God breathed life into man, and man became a living being. Let us live – and live to the fullest in everything, both big things and small – for His glory. Soli Deo Gloria!