Loved Before He Laid Eyes on Me.
“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.” (Genesis 2:7 NIV)
We aren’t told where this part of creation took place. The Bible does not provide any details or even hint about the whereabouts. Was it in the north part of the garden where the lions and tigers played? Perhaps it was in the jungle where the soil was rich with nutrients and the lush surroundings would make a pleasant picture for the new creature to wake up to. Or maybe it was on a hill overlooking the river of life where livestock and other creatures could watch with anxious anticipation as to what their Creator was doing in the garden and on His knees.
Anxiously, the animals watched at what would eventually be a rib cage. Next, the heart, lungs, and the rest of the respiratory system were created. The framework for the body gave the impression that whatever He was creating was a massive creature and began to resemble the Creator. The legs then ankles were completed. The shoulders, ears, and eyelashes were all done with the most painstaking attention to detail. The animals watched as the Creator carved what turned out to be fingerprints into the hands of the lifeless body.
The Creator inhaled and with one motion put his mouth over the nose of the dusty figure and “man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
For the very first time, human eyes beheld its Creator. The first image it ever processed and being it beheld was one of God on His knees, bending down looking down at him. Adam’s first glimpse of God is one that will be portrayed through the Bible. One of a God that is willing to get down in the dirt with HIs creation. One of a Deity that is not afraid of the intimate connection between Himself and His children. That is love if nothing else is.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive…” (Ephesians 2:4 NIV)
Thought Questions:
- What does God’s process of creating man tell you about you?
- What does God’s process of creating man tell you about God?
