Does God Exist? Where Does Human Life Come From?  | Bible Reading Plan for Seekers | January 7 

🌱 A Warm Welcome

Welcome to our 365-Day Journey to Discover God!

Have you ever thought about how something we do every moment of the day can also be one of life's greatest wonders?

Breathing.

From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep at night, we keep breathing, usually without giving it a second thought. We can stop working, stop talking, or close our eyes to rest, but our bodies continue breathing to keep us alive.

Sometimes, when we see a newborn baby take its first breath, hear its first cry, or watch an elderly loved one grow weaker, we begin to wonder: What exactly is life? Why are we alive? And why can't we keep ourselves alive forever through our own strength?

Today, we'll read a short passage from Genesis 2. The Bible gives us a remarkable picture of the beginning of human life: God forms man from the dust of the ground and breathes into him the breath of life.

This ancient account invites us to think about something we experience every day but rarely stop to appreciate—life itself.

📖 Bible Background | Why Does Genesis Describe the Creation of Man Again?

Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It begins with the account of God creating the heavens, the earth, and everything in them.

In Genesis 1, the Bible presents a broad picture of creation: light and darkness, the sky and seas, land and plants, the sun, moon, and stars, the animals, and finally human beings.

Genesis 1:27 says:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

In Genesis 2, the focus changes. Instead of describing the creation of the whole world, the passage takes a closer look at human life. It explores how God formed man and introduces the relationship between humanity, the Creator, and the earth.

Today's reading, Genesis 2:4–7, begins this part of the story.

Two details stand out: the dust of the ground and the breath of life.

Through these images, the Bible presents human life as closely connected to the earth while also receiving its existence from God.

If you're reading the Bible for the first time, you don't need to treat this passage as a modern biology textbook. We can begin by understanding what the passage is saying and then consider how it relates to our questions about life and its origins.

🌿 A Look Back | From the Creation of the World to Human Life

Over the past several days, we've been exploring one central question: Does God really exist?

On Day 1, Genesis introduced God as the Creator of heaven and earth. On Day 2, Psalm 19 invited us to look at the sky and consider whether the beauty and wonder of nature might point to a Creator.

Today, we turn our attention from the vast universe to ourselves.

When we think about the stars, oceans, mountains, and galaxies, we may feel amazed by how enormous the universe is. But when we begin thinking about our own lives, the question becomes much more personal.

If the Creator described in the Bible really exists, what does He have to do with my life?

Genesis 2 begins to explore that question through the account of how God formed the first man.

🔎 Today's Introduction | What Makes Us Alive?

The human body is an extraordinary living system.

Our hearts keep beating, our lungs keep breathing, and our brains process information. Countless cells work together, allowing us to walk, think, learn, feel, and experience life.

Science helps us understand how the human body works, how life develops, and how humans are related to other living things.

But when we think more deeply about life, we may find ourselves asking questions that go beyond describing biological processes. Why is life so precious to us? Why do we care about our own existence? Why do we want more than simply to survive? Why do we search for meaning?

Today's passage describes the beginning of human life in a simple but memorable way.

God forms man from the dust of the ground, then breathes into his nostrils the breath of life. The man becomes a living soul.

In the Bible's account, human life isn't presented as something completely independent or self-sustaining.

Man is formed from the ground, yet receives life from God.

If that is where life ultimately comes from, how might it change the way we understand our own existence?

🎯 Today's Reflection Focus | Life Comes from God and Depends on Him

1. Formed from the Dust of the Ground — Recognizing Our Limitations

Genesis 2:7 begins with the words:

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground"

It's a striking image.

The Bible doesn't describe God making man from gold, silver, or precious stones. Instead, it says He formed man from ordinary dust.

Dust is something we see everywhere. It reminds us that even though human beings have intelligence, abilities, and creativity, we are still physical creatures with needs and limitations.

We need food, water, air, and rest. We grow tired, we get sick, and we cannot control everything that happens in our lives.

But having limitations doesn't mean our lives have little value. Genesis 1 has already introduced the belief that human beings were created in God's image.

Genesis 2 adds another perspective: people can have dignity and worth while also being vulnerable and dependent.

Perhaps this can help us look at ourselves differently. We don't need to pretend we can do everything, and our weaknesses don't make our lives less valuable.

2. The Breath of Life — Understanding Life as Something Received

The passage continues:

"and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

In this account, dust alone isn't a living person. It is when God gives the breath of life that the man becomes a living being.

The KJV uses the expression "living soul." Here, the phrase describes the man becoming a living person. We don't need to assume the verse is giving a detailed explanation of how a separate soul and body fit together.

The main point is that life comes from God.

We often talk about "my life" and make plans for our future. We work hard, set goals, and try to shape the direction of our lives.

But if the Bible's description is true, then life is something we first receive rather than something we create for ourselves.

Being able to wake up, breathe, see, hear, think, and feel may be far more precious than we usually realize.

3. Depending on God for Life — Rethinking What It Means to Be Alive

In the picture presented by Genesis, man doesn't first become alive and then decide whether he needs God. He becomes a living person because God gives him life.

This introduces an important biblical understanding of humanity's relationship with the Creator: human beings are not completely independent of the One who made them.

Of course, in everyday life, medicine and biology help us understand breathing, circulation, and how our bodies function. That knowledge matters and helps us care for our health.

But Genesis is addressing another kind of question: Where does life ultimately come from, and why do we exist?

If life really comes from God, then learning about Him may be more than exploring a distant religious idea. It may have something to do with how we understand ourselves, how we live, and how we treat the people around us.

💭 Life Reflection | Even Breathing Is Something Worth Appreciating

We spend so much of our lives pursuing things that matter to us.

We want to do well at work, stay healthy, build happy families, and see our efforts make a difference.

These are natural desires. But in the middle of pursuing them, we sometimes forget that simply being alive today is something we cannot fully control.

When we're healthy, we rarely notice each breath. When life is going smoothly, it's easy to assume tomorrow will come just as expected.

But when we become sick, exhausted, or watch someone we love struggle with their health, we're reminded of how fragile life can be.

Genesis 2 gives us a memorable picture.

God forms man from the dust of the ground and gives him the breath of life.

If we understand life the way Genesis presents it, then being alive is about more than our own strength, abilities, or achievements.

That doesn't mean we should stop working hard, ignore medical care, or avoid taking responsibility for our lives. Instead, recognizing our limitations can encourage us to care for ourselves, appreciate others, and make good use of the time we have.

Maybe you're still uncertain whether God exists. Perhaps you're not sure how to understand the Bible's account of human origins.

But you can still consider a question that matters to every one of us:

If I didn't create my own life, shouldn't I treasure it more deeply?

Perhaps something worth appreciating today isn't just a good thing that happened to us. It's something so ordinary we hardly notice it—we're still breathing, and we have another day to live.

✍️ Questions & Small Action | Appreciating the Gift of Life

Questions to Think About

1. Do you usually take your health, your breathing, or waking up each morning for granted? Have you ever experienced something that made you especially aware of how precious life is?

2. The Bible says God formed man from the dust and gave him the breath of life. What thoughts, feelings, or questions does that image bring to mind?

3. If life really comes from a Creator, how might that change the way you see yourself, other people, and the purpose of life?

Today's Small Action

Find a quiet moment today to set aside what you're doing and sit comfortably for two or three minutes.

Notice your breathing. Feel the air gently moving in and out of your body. There's no need to change the way you breathe. Just breathe naturally.

Then think about a few ordinary things in your life that are worth appreciating.

Maybe it's being able to get out of bed and walk, enjoy a meal, talk with your family, or see the sunlight outside your window.

If you'd like, write down one thing you're grateful to experience today.

Then ask yourself:

"How can I better appreciate my own life and the lives of the people around me today?"