The Creation of Man, Part Two
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
2/25 Reading Portions: Exodus 8; Luke 11; Job 25-26; 1 Corinthians 12
Genesis 2:5-6
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, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—
GROUND
The creation of man was also interestingly grounded. That is, there was nothing growing on at least one piece of land on the earth. Perhaps it was the entire earth, because as our triune God commanded the trees and vegetation to sprout on the third day of creation (Gen 1:11-13), perhaps it had not yet sprung to life. Nevertheless, I personally believe (and have taught and preached this) that there was a special plot of land that had no seeds, had no vegetation, and was clear of everything but the simple dust of the ground. Scientifically, we know today that the chemical composition of the human body is similar to that of the earth’s crust. And although vegetation was created on the third day, there was a purity in the first man’s composition. Just dirt. There were no weeds, seeds, or other living, foreign organisms mixed in to form man from the dust of the ground. Plants produced after their own kind (Gen 1:12). Fish produced after their own kind, as do the birds of the air (Gen 1:21). Animals, whether beasts, livestock, or creeping things, they each produced after their own kind (Gen 1:25). Likewise, it was so for mankind (much to the chagrin of many horror writers). A principal of purity and holiness was established in the creation of man, who was created in the image and after the likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27). This was to point to our Lord, Jesus Messiah. Though Jesus was not formed from the dust of the ground, He was begotten from above (John 3:16; 8:23), and therefore He is not only sinless and perfect in His purity, not only unique and heavenly in His holiness, but there is no mixture of animal or vegetable in His physical being. Jesus is not like many of the gods of myth and legend, a hybrid from the utterly sick and reprobate imaginations of those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Indeed, the first man was created from the weedless and seedless dust of the ground because the body of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus—that is His church—would be the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim 3:15, KJV). Hallelujah! What a Savior!