As disciples of Jesus Christ we are thirsty. We thirst for more Jesus; more faith; more knowledge; we thirst for more of the Living Water.
Today I want to dive into Genesis 2 and the story of Adam and Eve. Water has always been a huge element of our life. We depend upon it–and we see evidence of this from the very beginning. Genesis 2 is a second creation story. It is different than the 7 days of creation. Some argue that chapter 2 is a zooming in on the creation of mankind from day 6. As we take a close look, this understanding doesn’t work–as we will see. Even still, it is important to understand that chapter 2 does not contradict chapter 1. Instead, chapter 2 paints a different portrait. Both are true and both are accurate. But we can’t make these portraits share the same canvas.
“When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land,”
Genesis 2:5
Close your eyes and paint the picture of this description in your mind. What do you see? Nothing! There is nothing there. Sometimes we are led to believe that God made the garden and then put Adam and Eve into it. According to Genesis 2 there was nothing but dirt. Well, dust if you want to use a more poetic word. No rain was falling yet. Desolate. Or, more to the point, a blank canvas for our Creator God. Dust, however, by itself is like making sandcastles on a dry beach. So our Lord added the vital ingredient–water.
“And a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground–then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground.”
Genesis 2:6-7a
What do you get when you add some water to some dirt? Mud! It is pretty amazing that the first picture we have of our God is Him playing in the mud and creating humankind. God playing–have you ever had that imagine in your mind? It changes our picture a little when we think about the creative work of God as play-filled. Too often we can assume God’s work to be more like the image of a high stressed; short on time; overwhelmed executive. Nope. The Lord God was playing in the mud, fashioning and forming Adam. There had to be a smile on His face and I’m guessing the studio was a wreck because I’ve never seen an artist’s studio that was pristine and clean. It is a paradigm shift to start seeing God’s creating as play, not work. And this shift changes the way we dance through this life.
Thirsty Bones
There are certainly parallels between what the Lord does next for Adam and what the Lord did in the valley of Dry Bones. (In case you missed this weeks Bible Study, you can check it out here) Adam, after God’s play time, was formed but lifeless. Until the breathe of God entered his nostrils and lungs. It is the breathe of God that animates and activates us!
“And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
Genesis 2:7b
Thirsty Disciples are those who breath in the breathe of God. But also the ones who stay malleable and pliable in the hands of the potter. You see, one thing you get when you have dirt and water mixed together is clay. Clay only works when it is wet–when it is thirsty. The potter at the wheel is constantly adding water to ensure the clay doesn’t crack, break, or dry out. Thirsty disciples continue to seek and grow in Christ by returning to the fount of Living Water each and every day.
But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
Isaiah 64:8
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Disciples of Jesus stay thirsty throughout our lives because we want to continue to be fashioned, formed, and shaped more completely into His image. We drink of the Living Water because it keeps us moldable and pliable. As such, a question all disciples must ask is–what keeps your clay wet? For me, it is quality family time; trips with family and dear friends; holy conversation that springs from the Word; and sitting by a fire with loved ones. There are others, for sure.
What’s on your list?
