Poetic Justice
And YHWH Elohim formed Man out of dry, loose earth dirt, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living person. Genesis 2:7 (my translation)
Breath / living – If you read this verse in Hebrew, you will be impressed at its internal elegance. There is alliteration (adam – afar – adamah) (nishmat chayim – nephesh chaya) (va-yipach be-apav) and structural parallelism (both yitser and chaya are spelled with double yod’s). Read without the usual substitution of Adonai or Ha-Shem, the opening of the verse contains another alliteration (va-yitser YHWH and Elohim et – although the et is completely hidden in translation). It would take a genius to produce just this single verse even on the structural components, but when you add the depth of meaning, then you are in the realm of divine authorship. In thirteen words, everything we need to know about the nature of Man is revealed.
Man is formed deliberately. There is not a hint of accident or evolution. He is formed for a purpose. Inherent in that purpose is his ability to choose – and he is capable of choosing both good and evil. The potential to choose is neither accidental nor punitive. It is essential to being human and an endowment of the Creator. Therefore, Man is responsible.
Man is the connection point between the earth and the divine Creator. He shares in both and both are necessary to his being. He is neither a spiritual entity imprisoned in a body of flesh nor a creature arising from the primeval muck striving to become divine. He is formed as the bridge, the axis point of the world, the one called to be God’s regent. His creation verifies the essential goodness of the world and, at the same time, recognizes that the world is not all that there is. Man is the vehicle by which heaven and earth are united and will be united. And his choosing is at the heart of the operation.
Man is who he is because he has been given life. God imparted this particular form of life to Man directly from His own being. Man is man because he is God-animated. Man is theopneustos, to borrow a term from 2 Timothy 2:15. He is God-breathed. Any characterization of Man that does not rest on this ontological reality is a false characterization, a defective characterization. Man without God is not Man at all. It is life bequeathed on Man that makes Man what he is.
This implies that Man does not and cannot earn his way in the world. To be is to be given. Life itself is God’s and God gives it as a gift, but it does not come without conditions. Man is choice wrapped in the gift of life. Man’s choice has a direct bearing on the manifestation of this gift. Choice either supports and enriches life or it starves and destroys life. The gift is conditioned by the fact that it is God’s breath that animates, not Man’s. Man is dependent and derivative. What cannot be breathed by God is not in concert with God’s breath and what is not in concert with God’s breath will not live. Nishmat chayim produces nephesh chaya. It is not capable of producing anything else.
The nishmat chayim is also curious. Nishmat (breath) is singular but chayim (lives) is plural. What lies behind that idea that God’s “breath of life” is both unity and diversity at the same time? Why is His single breath the animator of lives? And in what way does Man embrace, absorb, retain “lives” given from God? The text tells us that Man became a living nephesh, and we think we know what this means. But even here the Hebrew text contains another anomaly. The expression should be ha-adam nephesh chaya, but it isn’t. It actually reads, ha-adam le-nephesh chaya. What is the purpose of the extraneous preposition le. Literally, the text reads “man to person became.” Could it be that Man transitioned from something not-a-person into a person? Maimonides thought so. All the more reason to recognize that being a person, being human as God intended and breathed, is not unconditional nor is it concomitant with being born homo sapiens. Man becomes a person.
Today you and I will breathe God’s gift of the nishmat chayim. We will choose if we will become a person. We will embrace the lives in God’s breath and manifest those lives in some way that bespeaks our Creator. Then we will be human. But it will depend on what you do today. You cannot be human tomorrow until tomorrow you breathe His breath.
Topical Index: human being, Genesis 2:7, nephesh chaya
until tomorrow you breathe His breath”
I have not been feeling well lately, or behaving very well either for that matter
Yesterday I had some minor stomach surgery and they gave me some vicodin for the pain
This morning I felt bit depressed and had a strong urge to take the vicodin
But I focused on my breath instead, and the effect was immediate, and I did not take the vicodin
Then this evening my daughter called and asked me to pick her up from a friend’s house
I had been working around the house all day and looked a mess
But I got cleaned up and picked her up and took her home and it was a great experience
If I had taken the vicadin, I could not have picked her up and driven her home in good conscience
Michael, beautifully said and a great illustration of what Skip is writing about today. Thank you for sharing. Keep the “great experiences” flowing.
How good that you were able to think that clearly, even through the pain. Just last night, I was visiting with a young woman, who told me how part of her treatment for breast cancer included learning how to breathe properly to diminish the pain, because there are so many drawbacks to pain medication.
Michael, I hope your healing is swift and sure. Blessings to you.
Michael, I am praying for your health. We have the privilege of praying (interceding) for one another. A major event,often overlooked, which hasn’t received a lot of “press” in today’s media driven culture is the torn veil of the temple. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:11-12). “By a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Hebrews 10:20).
We (all of us) have access to G-d. “Brought to you by,” provided by, obtained by, the precious blood of the Perfect, spotless, sinless Lamb, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Because YHWH is a thrice-holy G-d, we need a covering. Protective “clothing” (if you will) to come into the presence of the HOLY ONE. We (all) have been invited. “Come unto me” are His words, and access has been obtained for every follower of the Way. We may now, today- pray as never before.
Maybe, brother Skip, at some point in the future, we could study the Tabernacle in it’s complexity, yet simplicity. In the O.T. YHWH had a temple for His people, in the N.T. YHWH has a people for His temple. “And what agreement hath the temple of G-d with idols? for you are the temple of the living G-d; as G-d hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their G-d, and they shall be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6.16) And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which G-d lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22) Or are you not conscious that your body is a temple for the Holy Breath which is in you, and which has been given to you by G-d? and you are not the owners of yourselves; for you are bought with a price: therefore glorify G-d in your body, and in your spirit, which are G-d’s. (1 Corinthians 6.19,20) What does this mean?
Lol!- It means we are “owned.” We are under new management. We do not belong to ourselves, but rather belong to the good Shepherd of the sheep. Not only are we owned, but we are (as the youngsters might say) “p-owned.” Lock, stock, barrel- down to the hairs on our heads, our teeth, our tongues, our time, our thoughts. All belong to Him. I have been,- you have been “bought with a price.” Redeemed. Purchased. Paid for. -What? -you did not know this? Know it now. Know it, and live it. We are owned. Yeshua is LORD. ADONAI. “My G-d.” LORD. Boss. Master. Ruler. King. – (d)- all of the above!
We (who are His) are now (today) the union of human flesh and divine inspiration. I no longer wonder where all these thoughts and words come from. They all have a Source. So do my actions. So do my desires. “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.” (Romans 11.36) I didn’t say this- He did. These words were written in a divinely inspired book for our instruction. These are His words, I just “remembered” them. How did I do this? Someone “re-minded” me. I am reminded just now of John 14.26- “Know this.” -“But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, He will remind you of everything I have said to you.” -This is big folks. Really big. We have Help. (Selah) Should we pray- G-d help us? Help us, enable us, empower us, energize us to become as the second Adam, the perfect union of humanity and divinity, -to love one another with a pure heart fervently. Amein!
‘In the O.T. YHWH had a temple for His people, in the N.T. YHWH has a people for His temple.’
Carl, I like that statement. It reminded me of what a friend recently told me. He said that in the ancient world, everyone knew what god a person worshipped by the holidays they celebrated. It took a minute, and I thought, “Well, duh!” 🙂
Gayle, I’m remembering a song by “Three Dog Night.” (yeah, I’m that old!) “I just want to celebrate another day of living!” There’s more truth than fiction in that statement. Here’s another we often take for granted: “This is the day which the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118.24) Why should we celebrate? What is the “cause” of our rejoicing? lol!- again?- “this is the day which the LORD has made.” Let’s go over to a window and look outside…-why, it’s almost HD 3D! lol! When is the last time we said- “Thank you G-d for a cup of cold water? for a breath of air? for all ten fingers and eleven toes? (-gotta keep you on your toes!)
“Count your many blessings” is not too far off the mark. So many folks are moved by the majesty of the mountains, but what about the Maker of the mountains? (and the molehills?) Do you ever say (make sure no one is looking of course..) Wow G-d!- that was awesome! I do. And I’ll confess in front of everyone, – I enjoy saying it.
I wish y’all could have been with me for breakfast this morning.. – it was 5 star. And the coffee? “oh yeah, babe!..” And that cutie I kissed on the way out the door..- if she ain’t the bomb! Got the good news yesterday a close friend’s daughter has won her battle with cancer and has her appetite back. Hallelujah!- Ever thank G-d for your appetite? Or for your teeth? (Even though I hail from Tennessee, I’ve got all my natural born teeth!) Funny? yes, but not for my brother in South Florida who suffers from a gum disease and has lost his. -Don’t take anything, (anything) for granted. “Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the HOLY ONE..” – How hard is it to say “thank you?”
Michael, may you learn to live in His breath, moment by moment. Shabbat shalom!
Praying for you Michael. Sounds as though you are experiencing breakthrough as you breathe the breath of Life. Abundant blessing in the mighty Name of YHWH!
Great post, Skip!
Keep on breathing enthousiastically with the inspiration of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh, from the richly Inspired Word of IAUA (YHWH)!
All your kinds words had a big effect on my state of mind and I appreciate your support.
And the process I went through at El Camino Hospital seems to have cured my sick stomach.
Because they took the sickness out of my stomach before they removed my gall bladder.
Now my stomach feels almost normal.
Although I was very emotional today, my mind was clear and seemed to be resynchronizing.
My wife brought my children over and I had an exceptionally good experience with the children.
It turned out to be a great day for me and, again, I appreciate your support.
Today I was feeling completely healed, and having spent the weekend working around the house
In preparation for my kids to come stay with me, for the first time, next weekend
And just about to drive down to South San Jose to pick up my dog Max
My right arm began to tingle and my hand began to contract uncontrollably, and I began to panic
So I drank several glasses of water and began to breathe very deeply and focus on Yahweh
And suddenly my head became very numb and my right leg became very numb, so I called 911
And spent the day in the hospital taking another battery of tests
After which I was told I did not have a stroke
As it turns out I had a TIA, aka a Transient Ischemic Attack, or mini stroke
When I got back to my place, my right arm began to tingle and my hand began to contract
When I began to panic, I began to breathe deeply and focus on Yahweh
And the tingling and numbness went away
I won’t be going to work tomorrow, but I’m grateful not to be in a state of panic
Michael, continuing to pray. I am calling out your name to YHWH, asking for His healing to overtake you. He is very near you as you draw near to Him.
Father, I ask you to work in Michael now. Strengthen him with your grace. Heal his body and give him wisdom to do what you ask. I ask you to do what the doctors are unable to do. Thank you for being our help in uncertain times. Thank you for being the Rock of our salvation. Amen
Michael,
In agreement with sister Mary’s prayer.
Also praying that YHWH will fill you with the abundance of His life giving breath.
Be made well and strong in YHWH’s power.
Mary and Brian,
Although I had a good day and my health seems to be improving, as I got tired earlier this evening my mood took a turn for the worse.
When I found your comments in Hebrew Word Study, your prayers had a profound effect on me and were deeply appreciated.
Bless you both.