The purpose of this contemplation is not to literally conclude whether or not the Holy Spirit of God actually inspired Michelangelo Bouonarotti in his rendition of “The creation of Adam,” which he painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. However, we have noticed aspects of this fresco that seem to illustrate certain truths about the nature of man and the nature of God as revealed in the Word of God.
God
1-God is literally flying to meet with Adam2-Body purposefully extended3-Arm actively extended, the right hand of His power4-Even His finger is stretching out5-God descends to His creation6-God already has all of creation on His back, relying on Him
7-Clothed in His robe
“In the Beginning GOD_”
God, being our Father, is always ready and willing to run to our defense, run to our comfort, and run to forgive us. Just as He is represented in the story of the prodigal son. The sinful, wasteful, arrogant son returns home in shame to confess his sin to his father, yet “when he was still a long ways off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). The father not only forgives his son but he goes on to clothe him, feed him, and celebrates his safe return and repentance (Luke 15:22-23). God is “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9). “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27).
God is the one in action. He created all things, He provides all things, and He seeks all mankind in hopes that they will respond to His offer of salvation. “Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it” (Isaiah 42:5). “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). “No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws him; I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1st Corinthians 12:3).
There are many references in the scripture to God’s hand, which signifies His power, strength, and ability to deliver. “Him [Christ] God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). “Therefore [Christ] being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). “O LORD God, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like your works and your mighty deeds?” (Deuteronomy 3:24). “And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 5:15). “Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand” (Psalm 20:6).
God does not expect Adam or humanity to become exalted, righteous, or godlike in order to extend His blessings. God does not expect us to ascend to Him, in fact God always descends humbly to us to clearly demonstrate His love and provision. God descends to the Garden of Eden to be with Adam (Genesis 2:21-3:8). He descends, as the Angel of the LORD to reveal His will to Moses (Exodus 3:2). He descends to lead His people from Egypt (Exodus 16:10, 14:24). He descends in order to be present in the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus 33:9-11, 1st Kings 8:10). He descends, as the Commander of the army of the LORD (Joshua 5:13-14). He descends and incarnates to atone for our sins (Matthew 2:1). The Holy Spirit descends to the disciples at Pentecost, and in order to alight on Jesus (Acts 2:2-4 Matthew 3:16). He descends to the New Jerusalem to live with His children (Revelation 3:12, 21:2-3).
God is clothed, in the scripture robes are symbolic of protection, righteousness, and spotless purity. “He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). “In the year king Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).
“Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel” (2nd Samuel 13:18). “I will clothe him with your robe and strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah” (Isaiah 22:21). “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban” (Job 29:14).
Adam
1-Not seeking after God, barely reaching out to him2-Sitting, slouched3-Arm extended only due to it resting on his knee, therefore, he is not holding it up4-Limp wrist5-Limp finger6-Resting on God’s creation, resting on God’s provision7-Not at work but resting
8-Naked
“In the beginning God CREATED_”
Adam is at rest, not yet a laborer. God does assign Adam a task, however, it is clear that before the fall Adam enjoys the seemingly simple tasks of tending the garden and naming animals. “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19). After the fall however Adam’s workload is significantly increased and handed down to all humanity as a curse. “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:17). “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground” (Genesis 3:19).
Adam is only facing God due to the physics of his posture. Adam and humanity do not seek after God. We do not take it upon ourselves by our own strength and will to seek after righteousness or forgiveness. “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2-3).
“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there” (Job 1:21). Adam is naked yet not shamefully. He is not clothed with the fig leaves that he and Eve made, representing a human attempt to cover sin (Genesis 3:7). He is not yet clothed in the tunics of skin that God made for them, representing not only a true covering of sin but pointing out that it is God Himself who provides atonement for sin (Genesis 3:21). In this case by the sacrifice of an animal, which is in itself symbolic, as is the whole sacrificial system, of the ultimate atonement that was made by the Messiah Jesus.
Adam is resting on God’s creation and provision. God plants the garden, provides food, and water for the garden, He creates the man and the woman to be partners.
“See I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:29). “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Genesis 2:8). “And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). “Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden” (Genesis 2:10). “And the LORD God said ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’” (Genesis 2:18).
“Good and upright is the LORDtherefore He teaches sinners in the way” Psalm 25:8