The Creation of Man, Part One
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
2/24 Reading Portions: Exodus 7; Luke 10; Job 24; 1 Corinthians 11
Gensis 2:5
When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land,
YHVH
The name of “the LORD” is used for the first time in reference to the triune God in this verse. The term the LORD God is translated from the Hebrew אֱלֹהִים יְהֹוָה (y’-HŌ-vah el-ō-HEEYM). It is one of the indications (of the many implications) that Moses wrote the book of Genesis after the fact. For the name of Yehovah had not been revealed to mankind until it was revealed to Moses at the burning bush in the Midian back desert (Ex 3:13). For YHVH God Himself said,
“I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.” Exodus 6:2-3
When our triune God created man in the beginning, He wanted us to know that it was not merely Elohiym that created him. Moreover, though He is all-powerful God, it was not merely El Shaddai, “God Almighty,” that created him. But He wants us to know through the blessed revelation of His holy truth that man was created by YHVH God. Why is that? There are many reasons, but for today, let us meditate upon just four very important truths. When YHVH God revealed His name for the first time to Moses, He said,
“I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14
Therefore, the first truth we encounter is that having stated “I AM WHO I AM,” YHVH God is the living God. Life begets life, and man could not be a living soul without the life-breath of YHVH God (Gen 2:7). The next truth we encounter from our text is that YHVH God is a personal God. As He made Himself known to Moses by His name YHVH (Ex 3:14; 6:3), man was fearfully, wonderfully, and intimately made (Psa 139:14). Third, as mentioned in an earlier devotional thought, from Genesis 1:26-27, man was created in holiness. YHVH God is a holy God. When He revealed Himself and His holy name to Moses, YHVH God first said to the prophet,
“Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:3
Fourth and finally, YHVH God is the Lord Jesus before His incarnation. As He revealed Himself to Moses as the great “I AM,” Jesus also reveals Himself to us likewise (John 8:58; and all other “I am” references in John’s Gospel). Jesus was the model and prototype for man’s physical creation, not the other way around. So, when someone asks me if Adam had a belly button, I immediately respond: “Did Jesus have one? If He did, then so did Adam.” Hallelujah! What a Savior!