Before anything else, God was there, hovering over the chaos like a gentle breeze. His Spirit moved through everything, bringing life into being with each breath. From the stories we read in the Bible, we see His breath in action – parting seas, guiding prophets, healing the sick, and empowering believers.
Today, let’s take a moment to think about the significance of God’s breath. It’s in every rustle of leaves, every bird’s song, and every beat of our hearts. His breath is what keeps everything going.
As we admire the beauty of creation, let’s remember our role in caring for it. We’re entrusted with protecting this world, made by God’s own breath, and that’s a responsibility we shouldn’t take lightly.
The Divine Exhale
In the Bible’s first book, Genesis, it tells us this amazing story: ‘Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person’ (Genesis 2:7, NLT). This verse shows us how God’s breath is what makes all living things alive, each one carrying a bit of God’s special touch.
Think about it—God shaping a person out of dust like an artist molding clay, and then, with great care, breathing life into him. In that moment, something ordinary turned into something extraordinary. Adam, the first human, blinked awake, his heart beating with the rhythm of life. The same breath that made the stars now gave life to a person.
In the quiet of the universe’s beginning, when it was just God and nothing else, He decided to create something amazing.
In the quietude of eternity’s dawn, when the cosmos hung suspended in anticipation, God leaned over the void—a Creator poised to breathe life into the void
~ Anchored In Hope
Imago Dei
We carry a piece of the Divine within us, like a small part of eternity woven into our very being. Every breath we take mirrors the act of creation, as we breathe in air and breathe out gratitude. We are not just ordinary creatures; we are made by God Himself, crafted from the dust of the earth and the whispers of heaven. Our existence isn’t just about biology; it’s about understanding our connection to the divine—a story written in the very fabric of our bodies.
The term ‘Imago Dei’ means ‘image of God’ in Latin. It comes from Genesis 1:27, where it says that humans are made to resemble God. This means we’re supposed to show God’s character in everything we do—how we live, how we think, and how we treat others.
The Symphony of Breath
Think about the rhythm of breathing—the steady rise and fall of chests, the constant flow of life. From the first cries of a baby to the last sighs of an elder, each breath connects us to the original breath of life. We breathe in grace, breathe out gratitude. We gasp with amazement, sigh with sadness. Our breaths shape our very existence—a delicate balance between our earthly beginnings and something eternal.
In the Bible, there are many stories of people whose lives were changed by this breath of life, by God’s ability to bring something new into our lives when we least expect it. Let’s explore who these people were and how the Creator’s breath of life made such a profound difference in their lives.
- Adam: Adam was the first man created by God, symbolizing the beginning of human creation and life on Earth.
- – Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV): “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
- Noah: Noah experienced a new creation after the flood, being chosen by God to preserve life and start anew with his family.
- – Genesis 6-9 (NIV): The story of Noah and the flood, where God commands Noah to build an ark and save his family and pairs of animals from the flood.
- Abraham: Abraham, originally named Abram, received a new name and a covenant from God, becoming the father of many nations.
- – Genesis 17:1-8 (NIV): The covenant of circumcision, where God establishes his covenant with Abraham and promises to make him the father of many nations.
- Jacob: Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, experienced a transformation after wrestling with God, symbolizing a new identity and purpose.
- – Genesis 32:22-32 (NIV): Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel and is given the name Israel, meaning “he struggles with God,” signifying his transformation.
- Moses: Moses encountered God at the burning bush and was transformed from a shepherd into the leader of the Israelites, guiding them out of slavery in Egypt and toward the Promised Land.
- – Exodus 3:1-10 (NIV): The burning bush encounter, where God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Joshua: After Moses’ death, Joshua took on the mantle of leadership and led the Israelites into the Promised Land, marking a new chapter in their history.
- – Joshua 1:1-9 (NIV): God commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses’ death.
- Ruth: Ruth, a Moabite woman, experienced a new life and identity when she embraced the God of Israel and became an ancestor of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ.
- – Ruth 1:16-17 (NIV): Ruth’s declaration of loyalty to Naomi and her decision to follow the God of Israel.
- David: Despite his shortcomings, David experienced spiritual renewal and restoration after repenting of his sins, leading to a fresh start in his relationship with God.
- – Psalm 51 (NIV): David’s prayer of repentance after his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah.
- Mary Magdalene: Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus, who freed her from seven demons, transforming her life and becoming one of his loyal followers.
- – Luke 8:1-3 (NIV): Mary Magdalene’s deliverance from demons and subsequent support of Jesus’ ministry.
- Saul (later known as Paul): Saul, a persecutor of Christians, encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, resulting in a radical transformation and his conversion to Christianity.
- – Acts 9:1-19 (NIV): Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, where he encounters Jesus and becomes a follower of Christ.
In conclusion, let’s take inspiration from the stories we’ve heard in the Bible about how God’s breath has transformed people’s lives. Ordinary folks became extraordinary through encounters with God, their lives completely changed by His touch.
Let’s stay open to receiving that same divine breath of new beginnings, allowing it to refresh and change us so we can show God’s glory in everything we do.
As we keep going through life’s highs and lows, let’s remember that the same God who breathed life into the world still breathes life into our hearts and souls, leading us closer to His love that lasts forever.
