After much prayer and research, I feel as though we need to look into how God created each and every one of us. See I don't know if you realize this but God created you and me from the ground. He got down to our level and carved the human being into His likeness. You were skillfully crafted in your mother's womb by the Creator. And I feel like an in depth look into how humans were first created needs to start off this study.
In Genesis 1:26, God says Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, meaning He had a distinct purpose.(The name for God in this verse is Elohim and is a plural version of El, meaning the Godhead-Father, Son, Holy Spirit.) Our image, likeness is described as establishing a personal relationship between God and man that does not exist with any other aspect of creation.*
He had a goal for us, right from the very beginning. The Lord explained this purpose in Genesis 11:6, He said "Behold they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them." This was His goal in crafting together man. So what did He do? He created man in His own image, male and female He created them. Wow! Dear friend, do you realize that God created YOU in His image? He designed you with a specific goal in mind and personal relationship with Him. He knew from the very beginning exactly His purpose for YOU.
I love how the MacArthur Bible Commentary puts this: It explains why the Bible places so much stress on God's hands-on creation of Adam. He fashioned this creature in a special way-to bear the stamp of His own likeness. It suggests that God was, in essence, the pattern for personhood of man. The image of God is personhood, and personhood can function only in the context of relationships. Man's capacity for intimate, personal relationships needed fulfillment. Most important, man was designed to have personal relationship with God. It is impossible to divorce this truth from the fact that man is an ethical creature. (emphasis mine)
We were designed to have a personal relationship with God. I can't get enough of this. God fashioned us in a special way to bear the stamp of His likeness! Let me say WOW again! Wow!
Not only that but we are God's representative in ruling over creation. While God shared His image with both man and woman, they were designed by God to accomplish His goal to multiply. Neither one could reproduce without the other. (Gen. 1:27) While we are studying all of the marriages of the Bible, we need to always remember: God created male AND female in His likeness. He created us to have a personal relationship with Him, fellowship with one another and reproduce to multiply the earth.
Moving on to Genesis 2:5, "Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground. Verse 7-"Then the Lord God, formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
So here we are, God has decided to create man in His image, according to His likeness so He formed man of dust from the ground. The word dust used in this verse figuratively signifies abundance. Genesis 13:6 says And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. The word ground used in this verse signifies the earth or clay God used to form man-Adam, both came from the ground and was assigned the task of tending the ground.
Stick with me here, God formed man abundantly from clay of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The meaning for nostrils here means face-to bow one's face to the ground. (Gen. 3:19; 19:1; 1 Sam. 24:8[9]) Here is God, bowing man's face to the ground and breathing into his nostrils- he was made from dirt but his physical components were made with such perfect precision and quality from the Master Craftsman! God gave him life! He gave him a living soul.
I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Psalm 139: 14,15 AMP
When man became a living being, his body and soul became alive. He received an inner being with thoughts and emotions.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:23
This is my prayer for you as we start this study into the marriages of the Bible. I pray that you realize how much the Master Craftsman intricately put you together for His diving purpose here on earth. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!
See you next time! "For it was Adam who was created, then Eve." (1 Timothy 2:13)
*The MacArthur Bible Commentary
**All scripture was taken from the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, NASB version-unless otherwise noted.
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