“And the Lord God formed man…”
Genesis 2:7
Again we see the name “Lord” used in reference to God, suggesting a personal or intimate involvement. This is so fitting for chapter 2 of Genesis. In chapter 1 we see God (Elohim) create with His words, now we see Him rolling up His sleeves and personally apply His very image into the creation.
The word “formed” is the term for a potter’s shaping of vessels. Just as a potter takes a mixture of earth and water and shapes a vessel, the Lord takes the dust of the ground (Gen.2:7) mixed with the spoken word of His breath (Gen.1:26) and forms a living man.
Being a blue collar guy this means a lot to me. I really love and respect the personal investment put into the work of the hands. One thing I’ve noticed is you can tell a lot about a person by their hands, the work they have accomplished, and the pain they have endured.
“Scars tell tales”, as they say.
It’s interesting to me how God chose to tell His tale of creation to salvation through the illustration of a tradesman. Here with the intimate, tender skill of a potter, and through Jesus with the strong, loving, nail scarred hands of a carpenter.
