Then God said, “Let Us make man IN OUR 1IMAGE, according to OUR LIKENESS…” (Gen. 1:26) 1tselem: representative figure. God’s plan in the creation of man was to make him as a representative figure of Himself.
So, just how did He do it? “…the LORD GOD formed man from the dust of the ground, and BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE; and man became a LIVING SOUL.” (Gen. 2:7) God formed man and as he lay there, perfectly created but lifeless, God breathed the breath of life, the actual BREATH OF GOD, into man’s nostrils and man became an eternal, perfectly created, living soul!
God placed perfect man into His perfect garden with a perfect wife to live for all eternity! We know that the devil tempted Eve with a lie and told them (Adam and Eve) that they would be as god’s. When they accepted this offer from the devil, eternal life for them ended, their place in the perfect garden ended and because of their choice, all humanity would be born in sin.
Along came Mary a virgin, to give miracalous birth to God the Son who was born in human flesh, still very God but born as man to become the sacrifice for man’s sin Jesus said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” And by that will, we have been MADE HOLY through the SACRIFICE OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST once FOR ALL.” (Heb. 10:9-10)
As Jesus was preparing to be offered up He, “…said to His disciples, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also SEND YOU.” And when He had said this, He BREATHED ON THEM, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22) That same “BREATH OF GOD” which breathed life into fallen man, was breathed on these believers and not only that but, “All Scripture is GOD–BREATHED and is useful so that the servant of God may be THOROUGHLY (through in and throughout) EQUIPPED for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
One more thing about God’s Word it is, “…ALIVE and POWERFUL. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Heb. 4:12) One additional wonderful thought about God’s Breath, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the BREATH OF HIS MOUTH.” (Psa. 33:6)
BREATHE ON US THROUGH YOUR WORD, DEAR LORD…
-Bill Stockham