Breath of Life

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10 KJV).

Eight to 15 million species of life—humans, animals, and plants—live on Earth. The current global human population is nearly eight billion. Indeed, all these lifeforms depend on the Lord Jesus Christ for existence!

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6). Exactly as described in Genesis chapters 1–2! One “breath” of the LORD went into Adam, the first man: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). That original breath—that life—first given to Adam passes down genetically to us all. “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life” (Job 33:4).

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:…” (Isaiah 42:5). “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;…” (Acts 17:24,25).

As God has power to impart the breath of life, He can spare or remove it: “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die…. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life…. All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died” (Genesis 6:17; 7:15,22). “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust” (Psalm 104:29).

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6).

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the ‘senate’ in Acts 5:21?”