Genesis 2:4-7 NKJV
...just to recap, in Genesis we studied Chapter 1 and the first few verses of Genesis, Chapter 2 in our view of The Beginning, Part One. We jumped to The New Testament to study the character of God in Galatians for The Beginning, Part Two. We saw evidence of the character of God through the eyes of the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the churches in Galatia. Paul taught them that God is IN us, God is Spirit, God is Grace, God is Compassionate, God is A Consuming Fire, God gives Freedom, God is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, full of Self-Control, and God is Merciful.
Understanding the character of God at creation helps give us clarity for what God’s plan was from the very beginning.
As we continue studying the beginning, we head back to Genesis and we begin with Genesis 2:4-7. The second Chapter of Genesis seems like it repeats some of Genesis One, but there are some differences that provide us with great information about The Beginning.
So, we begin Part Three of the Beginning
When we left off in Genesis 2:4 we learned, ““This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.” We know the writer of Genesis had a purpose and intent for writing Genesis 1 and in Genesis 2:4 he tells us why he structured it this way. Genesis 1 is a history and an overview.
In Genesis 2:4b-6 we read, “in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.” In Genesis 1, day 2 when God created the atmosphere there was moisture above, and on the third day He created vegetation. Man had not been created to care for the land. So in the interim, there was moisture above, and we learn in Genesis 2:6 that God made it so a mist came up from the earth to water the land.
In Genesis 1:27-28 we previously learned, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
The Genesis 1 overview and history says that God created man in His image, He blessed them, and gave them purpose.
In Genesis 2:7 it says, “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.”
We are given insight into how God created man. God used the elements (dust) from the ground to form man and He formed man in his likeness. After God formed man from earth (clay), He breathed life into man.
In Genesis 1:2 we read that the Spirit of God was on the face of the deep. Now, in Genesis 2:7 we are given more information about how man came to life. We read that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. Essentially, the breath we breathe is from God.
Every breath we take is from God. The Spirit of God, the breath of God is IN us.
When God breathed IN us, man came to life.
The elements, the character of God that the Apostle Paul helped us to understand in Galatians is IN us.
Paul taught us that God is IN us, God is gracious, God is compassionate, God IS Spirit, God is a consuming fire, God gives freedom (choice), God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, full of self-control, and God is merciful.
THAT is what God breathed into man in Genesis 2:7. The very character of God is part of us. We rely on the breath of God and in turning to God we choose God (because the character of God includes freedom of choice.) The Spirit of God gives us the character of God.
The elements of the character of God are available to us. Often we need to ask God to illuminate His love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Because God is merciful and full of compassion and grace, He shines His light on us so we can see the consuming fire IN us.
Creation, the beginning, is the day the Lord made everything we see. God made man and breathed His breath IN man. Everything that man IS came from God and is OF God.
God IN us.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: God IN us.
Practice ‘knowing’ Gods IN you. Be mindful of the Spirit of God IN you as you go about your day.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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