22,000.

That is the approximate number of breaths an average person takes during the course of one day. And most of that 22,000 cycles of respiration is involuntary. Maybe except when you think about it as you are reading this now. Every breath of air sustaining the life within us. Our breath itself is not the source of life abiding within. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible tells us the point of beginning of human life. 

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

In the garden of Eden – was made a man after the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Like an intricately and wonderfully sculpted work of art made as the centerpiece of attraction for the most prestigious of galleries. God made us – male and female. To be the centerpiece among all of His creations – the highly angel and the lowly animals. None more loved than us, than you. But man was just like a piece of art made from the worthless dust. God then would have to breathe into his nostrils. The very first breath of mankind – was the life-giving breath of God. And man became a living soul. Soul being the alternate translation of “being” in Genesis 2:7.

What is the soul of a man? It is the inner man. The collection of our emotions. The free-will which chooses God and equally rebels against God. The essence of the first breath of God was one of freedom and liberty to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17). The soul of Adam, as ours, is free to choose and not constrained as some caged bird. The first breath of God brought life to our bodies of dust and liberty to our souls. This degree of liberty in today’s world often dictates the man’s dignity of life. Liberty, which was equally abused by Adam and Eve, brought about the antithesis of life to our bodies: death. Death not as the world defines it to be – as the cessation of life (true physically). But death as in the eternal separation of our soul from the presence of our God (Matthew 10:28, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). This is God ultimately honoring our own soul’s (will) choice – that which the essence of our being truly wants.

When man was cast away from Eden (Genesis 3:23-24). He was now completely lost like a drifter in the deep oceans with no sight of land anywhere around him. The soul though rebellious by nature always yearns after God’s presence. Though never capable of ever finding its way back. So God would breathe again. And this is what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Like a compass in the hands of the sea-drifter which points him true north, with the eventual hope that he would one day find land. The Scriptures whether as dried ink on paper, or memorized Scriptures in our hearts or as dark pixels on a white screen – is alive and full-of-life (Hebrews 4:12). Like the inanimate model of clay in Eden that came to life as God-breathed into him. These written recordings of thousands of years come to life because God-breathed it into existence. To the soul which yearns to find its way back home. To the soul which despairs of the empty ocean that this world is. 

Yet, we find that we are utterly incapable of using a compass or powerless in following its directions. The simpletons we are, we needed a navigator to help and aid us through this long journey. Being equally lost as before and now add tired of our own incapabilities and shortcomings. So God would breathe again. This time through His resurrected Son – Jesus Christ, as He would walk into a closed room and tell and do this to His disciples in John 20:21-22.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

And with this third and final breath breathed through Jesus – He would give all of Heaven’s power and send Heaven’s best to our rescue. This last breath of God would bring alive in us – the spiritual man. Man being body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). See, when Adam and Eve allowed their souls to determine their future – it brought about the death of the spiritual man in them. Symbolized by their access to the tree of life which was immediately cut off by the flaming swords of the cherubims (Genesis 3:22). And as God’s breath returned again into man to bring to life that which was dead – through Christ and His Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Now the new man, physically born of Adam’s lineage and spiritually born-again of Christ’s lineage (1 Corinthians 15:45), finds that now along with his own willingness (soul) empowered by the Holy Spirit he can do the good he wants to do (Romans 7:18-19, 8:2).

This drifter at sea can now sail forward in purpose and power, in the assurance of making land. No more is he lost, but with clear directions he presses on. He knows without a doubt where the true north is and that is where he is heading. No more does he need to paddle with all his might and strength, barely making any progress against the current. Like a sailor who loosens his sail and harnesses the power of wind, this drifter can trust in that rushing wind to guide him home to land.

God’s first breath in our lungs makes us a living soul. God’s second breath in us, makes the Scripture to come alive in our hearts. And God’s third breath in us, makes that which once died within us to live again. God would you breathe on us!

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lorn

Through the storm, through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

~ From the Hymn “Precious Lord, take my hand”