Genesis 2:1-14

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7, NKJV)

Life is such a marvelous mystery. Anyone who has witnessed the birth of a child cannot adequately describe the experience. Perhaps David said it best.

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:13–14, NKJV)

We are made in the image of God from the dust of the earth. There is nothing special about our chemical components. You can find them in a fistful of soil. The wonder is in their combination. We are the workmanship of intelligence beyond our comprehension and capabilities. Man has yet to build a machine that can self-diagnose when it goes wrong, make repairs, and make other machines like itself. And yet the human body does all these things and so much more.

God breathed the breath of life into Adam. The Hebrew word for “breath” can also be translated “spirit”. God not only animated Adam as He did all living creatures, but He also gave Adam an eternal spirit. Through the wonderful workmanship and divine spirit-breath we are so much more than dust! Here is a beautiful balance between being God-like and earth-like.

How should this knowledge shape the way we think about ourselves and others? When you feel proud or self-sufficient, how can remembering you are “dust” increase your dependency on God? When you feel worthless, how can remembering you have the “breath of life” comfort and encourage you?