Genesis 2:4-6 “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.”
Rain would not fall upon earth until the great Flood of Noah’s day. Instead, “there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Note what was said earlier (on page 15) concerning speculation of the early earth and how its vegetation was given the water needed for growth. This system created by God is believed to have been in effect for approximately 1700 years. In that time, there would have been no inclemate weather, no storms and no erosion caused from torrential rains. The environment was perfect for the growth of vegetation, which sets the stage for the duty of man created on day six.
Genesis 2:7 “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.”
A general summary of the creation of man and woman was given in Chapter 1, but here is given in greater detail. Whereas God created the material universe simply by the power of His spoken word, man was created from the “dust of the ground” by the hand of God. He formed man from the dust, transformed that form into human flesh which could sustain life, and “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This creative work of God was not over a process of billions of years, through evolutionary stages of development from lesser forms of life. Man did not evolve, but was created by God in His own image.
The creation of man was far more personable, more tender and loving than had been demonstrated in the creation of the animal kingdom. Man was different. Man was special. Envision in your mind the Lord forming the clay into the shape of man, then cradling that lifeless form in His arms and breathing life into that lump of clay. That breath made the newly created man “a living soul,” distinguishing him from all other living creatures.
Evolution has robbed mankind of his unique position in the creation. It has brought him down on the level of members of the animal kingdom, and most have bought into this lie of the old Serpent. Man was created in the image of God, and Satan has sought since that creation to marr the image of God in man. We will see this clearly in Chapter 3. Mankind, as the crowning jewel of God’s creation, ought always to seek to magnify the Creator in all things. Unsaved humanity will not do this, but those who have been redeemed from among men certainly should. Because of sin, unsaved humanity are “dead” in their “trespasses and sins,” but just as God brought life to that lifeless form of clay in the sixth day of creation, He brings spiritual life to all who come to Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. May God ever help the redeemed to so live that others can see Christ in them; the Christ who has given them life, and that more abundant!
Pastor Steve Smith