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 soul. Gen 2:7 KJB
What an amazing verse in light of the computer age. God molded man from the dirt, then breathed the breath of life into him and man became a living soul. Living has to do with God’s life force, since the body was lifeless unto Adam received the breath Jas 2:26. Soul has to do with the inner rational Adam, his personality based on mind, will and emotional traits Job 32:8.
Adam was created to live with God forever, but first had to pass the test successfully. He was allowed to eat from all of the trees in the Garden Gen 2:16, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Gen 2:17. The tree of life represented dependency on Jesus Jn 15:5, whereas the forbidden tree symbolized independence, one becoming his own god, determining what was good and evil without God’s counsel. Unfortunately for mankind, Eve was deceived by Satan 1 Ti 2:14, and she and Adam ate—in disobedience to God’s command.
Sin caused the life force of God to be withdrawn and Adam and the whole of humanity experienced spiritual Eph 2:1-3 and physical death Heb 9:27 since that day. The spiritual occurred immediately after the sin was committed, but the physical death lingered until Adam had lived 930 years Gen 5:5.
The best way for modern society to understand the spiritual consequences of Adam’s actions, is to use the computer as an analogy. Adam’s body molded from dirt is likened to the laptop’s hardware casing, screen, and keyboard. His personality, can be compared to the software programs in the computer. Every owner has some similar software, such as word processing, music and video playback programs, while having some unique ones like Kindle reader, Adobe photoshop and so on. Every human has similar abilities such as to walk, communicate, create, while having unique gifts also. In particular, athletic, mathematical, acting abilities, and the likes.
Adam had to receive the breath of life, God’s indwelling Holy Spirit (“spirit” Hebrew meaning: breath, air, wind) to come alive, just as a laptop has to have its battery charged before it is functional. When Adam sinned, God withdrew His Spirit and Adam experienced spiritual, and later physical death. Why did the physical death come later? The computer illustrates this truth perfectly. If the power source is disconnected from the laptop it will have lost its life source, but its battery will still have a full charge. Eventually, the battery will be drained and the computer will be lifeless. It took Adam 930 years before his physical battery went dead, and after passing on his genes to his descendants, the battery life shortened to about seventy to eighty years Ps 90:10.
How did God defeat Satan and restore His life force in sinful man? Through a genius plan, where His Son took on human flesh, lived a perfect, sinless life and died on a Cross to reconcile the world to God 2 Co 5:18,19. Again, let’s use the computer illustration to understand the facts. In order for the laptop to run again, it must be reconnected to the power source. Only, Jesus our mediator 1 Ti 2:5, was able to reconcile God to man through His death 1 Jn 2:2. This reconciliation is available to all, who desire to be reconciled to God 2 Co 5:20. If the laptop is reconnected to the power source it will fully charge the battery and will run indefinitely. Jesus breathed His Holy Spirit on His disciples Jn 20:22 and gave them spiritual life 2 Co 5:17 and the commission to breath life onto others through the Gospel message Ro 10:17. This time, the Holy Spirit is sealed in believers Eph 1:13,14 eternally Jn 14:16,17. It would be like the Apple company soldering the electrical cord to your computer, so that it could never be disconnected from the power source.
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Then the 1Lord God formed a man from the 2dust of the ground and 3breathed into his nostrils4the breath of life, and the 5man became a living being. Gen 2:7 |
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What was God’s Purpose in Creating Man? A test. Man would have the freedom to choose to love and serve God or himself. |
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1Lord God formeda a man: God fashioned Adam’s body like a potter molding clay. God is the Potter, we are the clayb. He has created some for noble and others for ignoble purposes. Those who demonstrate their love for God by cleansing themselves from sin will be used for the Master’s good purposes, while evil people, will be used in a negative way to accomplish God’s goalsc. Pharaoh was an example of one that was used to lift up the God of Israel as the Almighty God, above all other false godsd1,d2. Yet, God gave Adam the opportunity to choose to be dependent upon Him, by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evile, which would make him a god, who would choose for himself what was good and what was evilf.
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ayatsar: to form, fashion bBut who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Ro 9:20,21 cIn a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Ti 2:20,21 d1What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? Ro 9:22 d2 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. 5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” Ex 7:3-5 e but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. Gen 2:17 f“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”Gen 3:5 |
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Why did God use dust rather than gold or precious gemsa to create man? a(The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin (pearls) and onyx are also there.) Gen 2:12 Man was created to be dependent upon God, not to be his own god. |
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2dust of the ground: Dust is a picture of humilitya, as it is found on the ground and is trampled on and is of little valueb. It is easily blown aroundc—fragiled, thus needing a strong One to be dependent upone. |
aBrought low, you will speak from the ground; your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper. Isa 29:1 bWoe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? Isa 45:9 cAll go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Ecc 3:20 dfor he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Ps 103:14 eI am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Jn 15:5 |
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Why did God breathe into the nostrils rather than the mouth? God has provided man with the capacity to be an overcomer, as truth will set one free. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Jn 8:32 |
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3breathed into his nostrils: The nostrils have a filtering system to keep out harmful foreign particles. The Holy Spirit was breathed into Adam to guide him into trutha but Satan can also breathe in liesb to deceivec mankind. Man can swallow what is trapped in the nose which can result in the body becoming sick or he can blow out the harmful particles and keep his body healthy. God has given man the freedom to choose to trust and believe in Him or to follow Satan. The battle in man is between his flesh, which desires to listen to Satan’s advice and the Spirit, who promotes God’s truthd. |
aBut when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. Jn 16:13 b…He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Jn 8:44 cAnd the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world… dThose who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Ro 8:5-8 |
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What is the breath of life? It is God’s life force which gives physical life to mankind and His Holy Spirit, who guides and comforts those who receive spiritual life. |
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4the breath of life: God breathed into Adam and he became a living beinga. Jesus breathed on His disciples and they received the Holy Spiritb. The Lord breathed on the dead bones of Israel and they came to lifec. |
aThen the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Gen 2:7 bAnd with that he (Jesus) breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Jn 20:22 c This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life… So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’” Isa 37:5,10-14 |
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What is a living being? Man has a material and two immaterial components which allows him to interact with others, God and himself. |
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5man became a living being: A living being has a body, soul and spirita. The body without the soul is deadb. The soul and the spirit are the immaterial part of manc. Just as joints and marrow are hidden beneath the skin, man’s soul and spirit are immaterial but real. They are closely related. The soul uses the five senses of the body to interpret incoming data and with the aid of the mind and feelings sends their input to the will to make a decision of what and how to respond to themselves or to others. The spirit does the same only it responds to God. For those that have received the Holy Spirit, He will send His input to the soul and the spirit to be considered in decisions also. |
aMay God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Th 5:23 bJas 2:26 the body without the spirit is dead… cFor the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12
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