This verse brings us to the creation of man. Genesis 1 tells us that man was created in the image of God. Genesis 2 tells us more about how God formed man.
There are three important truths in this verse.
A. The Designer of Man
The Bible says, “the LORD God formed man.” That word “formed” has the idea of molding or shaping. God personally formed man. Man is not the result of an accident. He is not the product of blind chance. He was designed by God.
Evolutionists do not want God involved in the beginning, but the biblical summary of the origin of man makes sense. Man has a Designer.
Psalm 139:14 says: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
The human body declares the wisdom of God. The brain, the movement of the limbs, the functioning of the organs, the complexity of the body - all of it shows that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Someone said that the wonderfulness of the human body is so great that those who study the cells of the brain, the articulation of the limbs, or the smooth functioning of the body organs stand in awe at how wonderful this creation of God really is. Every student of human anatomy must say to God, “How marvellous are thy works.”
The complexity of the human body shows that we have a Designer.
This molding of man is also wonderfully illustrated later in Scripture in Jeremiah 18, where God speaks of the potter and the clay. God is the One who shapes, forms, and works according to His will.
There is also special attention given to the creation of man that is not given to any other creature. God formed him. God breathed into him. Man is unique in creation.
B. The Dust in Man
The Bible says God formed man “of the dust of the ground.” That is humbling.
Man may become proud. Man may boast in his intelligence, accomplishments, possessions, and strength. But Genesis 2:7 reminds us where man came from. He was formed from dust.
Because of sin, man will also return to dust. Genesis 3:19 says: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
That verse reminds us of our frailty. Life is temporary. The body is weak. Man is not eternal in himself.
Science has shown that the substances of our flesh and bones contain elements found in the soil. The Bible said it long before science confirmed it: man was formed from the dust of the ground.
Paul gives a similar picture in 2 Corinthians 4:7, where he says we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The vessel is weak, but the treasure is glorious. The power is not in us; the power is of God.
C. The Dynamic of Man
The verse continues, “and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Lifeless clay became a living soul because God gave life. Life came from God.
Man is not merely a physical being. Man is also a spiritual being. God breathed into him, and man became a living soul. That means man has eternal significance. He was created in God’s likeness. He has a soul that will live forever.
Jesus said in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”
Life belongs to God. Physical life comes from God, and eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2:7 teaches us that man has dignity because he was formed by God, humility because he was made from dust, and eternal value because he became a living soul.
This verse brings us to the creation of man. Genesis 1 tells us that man was created in the image of God. Genesis 2 tells us more about how God formed man.
There are three important truths in this verse.
A. The Designer of Man
The Bible says, “the LORD God formed man.” That word “formed” has the idea of molding or shaping. God personally formed man. Man is not the result of an accident. He is not the product of blind chance. He was designed by God.
Evolutionists do not want God involved in the beginning, but the biblical summary of the origin of man makes sense. Man has a Designer.
Psalm 139:14 says: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
The human body declares the wisdom of God. The brain, the movement of the limbs, the functioning of the organs, the complexity of the body - all of it shows that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Someone said that the wonderfulness of the human body is so great that those who study the cells of the brain, the articulation of the limbs, or the smooth functioning of the body organs stand in awe at how wonderful this creation of God really is. Every student of human anatomy must say to God, “How marvellous are thy works.”
The complexity of the human body shows that we have a Designer.
This molding of man is also wonderfully illustrated later in Scripture in Jeremiah 18, where God speaks of the potter and the clay. God is the One who shapes, forms, and works according to His will.
There is also special attention given to the creation of man that is not given to any other creature. God formed him. God breathed into him. Man is unique in creation.
B. The Dust in Man
The Bible says God formed man “of the dust of the ground.” That is humbling.
Man may become proud. Man may boast in his intelligence, accomplishments, possessions, and strength. But Genesis 2:7 reminds us where man came from. He was formed from dust.
Because of sin, man will also return to dust. Genesis 3:19 says: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
That verse reminds us of our frailty. Life is temporary. The body is weak. Man is not eternal in himself.
Science has shown that the substances of our flesh and bones contain elements found in the soil. The Bible said it long before science confirmed it: man was formed from the dust of the ground.
Paul gives a similar picture in 2 Corinthians 4:7, where he says we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The vessel is weak, but the treasure is glorious. The power is not in us; the power is of God.
C. The Dynamic of Man
The verse continues, “and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Lifeless clay became a living soul because God gave life. Life came from God.
Man is not merely a physical being. Man is also a spiritual being. God breathed into him, and man became a living soul. That means man has eternal significance. He was created in God’s likeness. He has a soul that will live forever.
Jesus said in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”
Life belongs to God. Physical life comes from God, and eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2:7 teaches us that man has dignity because he was formed by God, humility because he was made from dust, and eternal value because he became a living soul.