Genesis 2:7 - Exposition

The first man.

I. MADE FROM THE DUST . This does not imply that in the composition of humanity there is nothing but particles of dust, or "molecules of matter." Simply it designs to state that the point of departure in man's creation was the soil out of which all other living creatures were produced; that, so to speak, man was constructed from beneath upwards, the Divine Artificer proceeding with his creation in the same ascending scale of activity that had been observed in the production of the rest of the universe—first the material body, and then the immaterial soul; and that, so far as the former is concerned, man is wholly and solely of the earth, earthy,—an assertion which the researches of chemistry and physiology abundantly confirm,—the elements of organized bodies being the same as those which constitute the inorganic world, viz; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, lime, iron, sulfur, and phosphorus. The statement is fitted to impress man with thoughts—

1. Of his lowly origin . While the Scripture in general labors to imbue his mind with correct ideas of his obscure nativity, comparing him to a wind, to a vapor, to a flower, to the beasts, to a worm, the sentiment of Moses takes him lower yet for his birthplace—to the dust of the ground, above which the wind blows, from which the vapors rise, on which the flowers bloom, across which the beasts roam, out of which the worm creeps.

2. Of his essential frailty . Being composed of little particles of dust, held together by what science calls "organization," but Holy Writ designates the power of God, it requires but the loosening of God's hand, as it were, for the framework of his body, so wondrously fashioned, so delicately carved, so finely articulated, so firmly knit, to resolve itself into a heap of dust.

3. Of his final destiny . Every mundane thing returns to the place whence it proceeded ( Ecclesiastes 1:5 , Ecclesiastes 1:7 ). The vapors climb into the sky, but descend again upon the hills, and seek the plains. The flowers bloom, but, after dispensing their fragrance, shed their leaves upon the earth. The young lions, that, as it were, are sprung from the soil, find a grave at last within their forest dens. As it is with the flowers and the beasts, so is it also with man. "All are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" ( Ecclesiastes 3:18 , Ecclesiastes 3:20 ; Job 10:9 ; Psalms 103:14 ).

Lessons :—

1. Humility of spirit ( Job 4:19 ; Psalms 144:3 , Psalms 144:4 ; Isaiah If. 1). "Holy living" (Taylor, § Genesis 4:9 ).

2. Care for the body—protecting its frailty from injury (Le Genesis 19:28 ) and its materiality from mastery ( Romans 12:1 ; 1 Corinthians 6:13 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:4 ).

3. Preparation for death ( Psalms 39:4 ; Psalms 90:12 ).

II. FASHIONED BY THE HAND OF GOD . Made from the dust, the first man neither sprung from the slime of matter, according to naturalism ( οι ̔ αυ ̓ το ì χθονες ), nor was evolved from the το Ì πα ͂ ν of pantheism, but was specifically formed by Divine creative power. This marked the first degree of man's superiority over other living creatures. Deriving existence, equally with man, from the creative power of God, it is not said of them that they were "formed" by God. Let this remind man—

1. Of the Divine origin of the body . If the physical structures of the lower organisms display such admirable proportions and striking adaptations as to evince the action of Divine intelligence, much more may a Creator's hand be recognized in the form and symmetry, proportion and adjustment of the human body. An examination of the hand, eye, or brain, of the muscular or nervous systems, instinctively awakens the devout feelings of the Psalmist: " I will praise Thee, O Lord; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" ( Psalms 139:14 ).

2. Of the Divine estimate of the body . Shown by the personal care and attention which God devoted to its construction, since he designed it to be the noblest of his works, the shrine of an immortal spirit, a prophecy and type of the body of his Son, in the fullness of the times to be prepared by another special act of creation ( Psalms 40:6 ; Hebrews 10:8 ). This estimate he has in many ways confirmed: by abundantly and generously sustaining it, although a partner in the spirit's sin ( Genesis 1:29 ; Genesis 9:3 ); guarding its life with the strictest and severest penalties ( Genesis 9:5 , Genesis 9:6 ); taking it into union with himself, in the person of his Son ( Hebrews 2:6 ); redeeming it, as well as the soul it enshrines, through his Son's blood ( Romans 8:21 , Romans 8:28 ); and constituting it, as well as the immaterial spirit, a partaker of resurrection glory ( 1 Corinthians 15:42 ).

Learn —

1. The true nobility of man's descent, and the duty of walking worthy of it.

2. The high value of the body, and the consequent obligation of neither dishonoring nor abusing it.

III. ANIMATED BY THE BREATH OF LIFE . The second degree of man's superiority to the lower animals. Like them, a living soul, his life is different from theirs—

1. In its nature . Theirs was a portion of that common life principle which God has been pleased to communicate to matter; his a direct afflatus from the personality of God.

2. In its impartation . Theirs was bestowed directly and immediately by the fiat of omnipotence; his conveyed into his material framework by a special Divine operation.

3. In its effect . Theirs constituted them "living souls;" his conferred on him personality. Theirs made them creatures having life; his caused him to become a spirit having life. Theirs left them wholly mortal; his transformed him into an immortal ( Ecclesiastes 3:21 ).

Let man consider—

1. That his body is a temple of the Holy Ghost ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ).

2. That his spirit is the creation and the gift of God ( Ecclesiastes 12:7 ; Isaiah 57:16 ; Zechariah 12:1 ).

3. That with both it becomes him to glorify his Divine Creator ( 1 Corinthians 6:20 ).