In a 1950s novel, there is a scene in which four village men
confess their sins to one another. One of the men, Michelis,
cries out, “How can God let us live on the earth? Why doesn’t He
kill us to purify creation?” “Because, Michelis,” one of the men
answered, “God is a potter; He works in mud.”
This is literally what the Lord did in Genesis. The sovereign
Creator formed and shaped humanity by unique design. This
process involved fashioning a man from the dust of the ground.
The word formed in
Genesis 2:7 describes the work of an artist. Like a potter,
molding and fashioning mud into a pot or some other earthen
vessel, so the Lord God formed humanity from clay.
God’s work with dust and mud continued by breathing into man the
breath of life, changing his form into a living soul. This made
man a spiritual being, with a capacity to serve and fellowship
with the Lord.
After Adam and Eve sinned, God continued working in and with
mud, sending His Son Jesus to die for humanity and then
regenerating those who receive Him so that we can enjoy
fellowship with Him. In gratitude, let’s use our hands to do
good works for His glory. — Marvin
Williams
In His own image God created man,
He formed his body from the dust of earth;
But more than that, to all who are in Christ
He gives eternal life by second birth. —Hess
God is the only One who can make the dirty clean.