In the last post, we looked at how the writer of Genesis changes focus from God creating, to that of the beginning of man. We embarked upon his recounting of creation for man and now continue.

And the LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim) formed (moulded/fashioned) man of the dust (clay) of the ground (soil), and breathed (blew) into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life; and man became (existed) a living (alive) soul (breathing creature, will).

We are now introduced to another aspect of Him who created us. In Genesis 1, we saw God existing before time, heavens or earth. Here, the writer tells us that the same God, Elohim, is Self existent and eternal. The One who exists in and of Himself (has no creator or beginning nor end) created man by moulding as a potter moulds a lump of clay into a pot or a cup or vase, etc, man from the clay of the soil.

Once fashioned into a shape pleasing to the moulder (God), God then breathed or blew or instilled in the nostrils of man the spirit of life. Once that spirit existed in man we are told that man became or existed an alive and breathing creature. The word for breathing creature can also be translated as soul or will. It is translated as soul 419 times in the OT and as will only 4 times. Other translations are life, person, heart, and mind all denoting the intelligent part of man. This verse also shows how that we are made with a spirit, in other words; in the image of God.

This one verse explains how it is that man is different from any other creature in creation. It tells us: 1.) God moulded man. 2.) God instilled the spirit of life in man. 3.) Man became a living will or soul. No where else is this terminology applied to anything else in the creation. We are different yet we share something in common with the animals: God created us. How magnificent is our God!!

Christian