Out of the Dust

“…then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). 

I’ve grown up hearing this verse, and it doesn’t typically make me stop and think.  It should though, because it says God made man out of dust.  Wait…what?  Yep, out of dust.

Surprisingly, the reason this came into my train of thought this morning had nothing to do with my reading the aforementioned Scripture.  In fact, I was cleaning.  I did not realize how much dust tile floor collects until I went to sweep our apartment today.  I had my music playing in the background, and the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor started playing.  The first lines go like so – “You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust.”  This is what started me thinking. 

Although I this is really gross, I took a picture of my finished product to give a visual for my thoughts.

Dust…I mean, I’m sure the dust the Lord used was clean dust, right?  Ha.  It probably wasn’t mixed with other outside particles, such as hair, but I would wager to say that dust is never really clean, pure, or special.  Several of the closest people in my life are very artistic, and I believe I can speak for them to say they have not considered creating any project out of dust, nor will they in the future.  Dust, or dirt, is something of which we try to rid ourselves – be it washing our feet or building foundations for our homes. 

Amazingly God chose to make humans – the only beings who have the capacity to make an eternal decision and are made in the image of God – out of the dust.  This first of all is humbling.  God created us out of basically nothing; in fact, He even called His creation very good.  Secondly, I am amazed at God’s ability and creativity.  As far as I know, no one else can create life out of dust.  I don’t think I would have chosen dust personally.  We can reflect here on why God might have chosen this resource though.  Of course we have no real way of knowing. 

Here’s my thought: only an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-sufficient God could make something beautiful – the crown of His creation – out of dust.  This act, which points to who God is, should be enough for us to fall down in worship of Him.