God’s Special Creation
Then the LORD God formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7 (CSB)
God created all things, including every creature, every plant form, and every aspect of creation from the smallest atoms to the largest mountains. In this moment of creation, however, the Lord uniquely created humanity. In Genesis 2, we learn that humanity was formed from the dust of the ground and received the breath of life, which made them living beings. While this verse may seem basic, it highlights the special nature of humanity.
HUMANITY MADE FROM DUST
God is the great crafter. From the dust, God crafted humanity with precision and purpose. Just as a potter shapes pottery from a lump of clay, so the Lord created humanity from particles of dust. Therefore, humanity is shaped by the hands of God with the purpose of being His hands. When we recognize our creation from dust, we must understand that we are crafted with a purpose and immense value.
HUMANITY RECEIVED THE BREATH OF LIFE
God breathed the breath of life into humanity. This act reveals humanity's significance within creation. We lack a record of any other part of creation receiving the breath of life; this is unique to humanity. The breath of life reflects the intimate and personal relationship between the Creator and the created. This gesture distinguishes us from the rest of creation because the breath of life signifies the gift of the spiritual soul. In a greater sense, this foreshadows Christ's offer to restore the wayward and broken spiritual soul. What was formed in creation and given life through breathing would be marred by sin, but Jesus would offer restoration and redemption.
HUMANITY AS LIVING BEINGS
The mention of humanity as living beings marks the separation of humanity from the rest of creation. Yes, animals live, but they do not carry the breath of life. Animals cannot reason, create, or hold the responsibilities given to them as stewards, as the Lord granted to humanity. When we recognize that humanity is more than beings who live, we set the stage to understand the unique and special nature of humanity as beings made in the image of God. \
QUESTIONS
How can recognizing God’s breath of life in us help us deal with feelings of hopelessness and despair?
How does the breath of God in us help us understand our great value and worth?
