"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 being." Gen. 2:7
We often sing songs and say prayers about the Breath of God; about Him breathing new life into us, about the refreshing nature of His breath, etc. There is a certain intimacy in finding comfort in the breath of God. But lately, when I've asked the Spirit to breath life into me, I've felt overwhelmingly drawn toward the idea that the breath of God is so much more than we can even comprehend.
I mean, if you start from the beginning, God simply spoke and everything was (Gen. 1). The formation of every word starts with a breath. (Have you ever tried to speak when you're short of breath?) I think it's possible that before the words were even formed, God's breath had already started creation (Psalm 33:6). And it became more personal when, after He formed man from the dust, He breathed life into his nostrils (Gen. 2:7). Then, from that single breath, the breath of all mankind is sustained by Him (Job 12:10, Job 33:4).
His breath protects His people (2 Sam. 22:16, Psalm 18:15), makes dry bones live again (Ezk. 37:5), keeps us from speaking wickedness and deception (Job 27:3), and gives understanding to the spirit of man (Job 32:8). That same breath also slays the wicked (Isa. 11:4) consumes those who cultivate iniquity (Job 4:9), and will destroy the lawless one in the end of all things (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev.20:9). But most importantly, it was His final breath as a man that gives me new life (Luke 23:46).
And, to top it all off, after Jesus ascended back to Heaven, he sent a Helper, the Spirit of truth (John 14:16). The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, which means a current of air or breath. It is the word used every time the New Testament writers refer to the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit of God is addressed in the Old Testament, it is the Hebrew word rûah, which means wind by exhalation. So as we are comforted or convicted by the Spirit, it is literally by God's breath.
Without the breath of God, we would be nothing. It made us, sustains us, comforts us, convicts us and saves us. So next time you find yourself comforted by the breath of God, know that you are being comforted by the most powerful and commanding force in all the universe. Before every word He speaks to you, He first breathes.
Father, thank you for the breath of life, and for it's renewing presence every day. Help me to remember that when I hear Your voice, it is prefaced with the greatest power in Your breath, and that I am covered in that power by Your Spirit through Jesus Christ. It's all in Jesus' name, Amen.
We often sing songs and say prayers about the Breath of God; about Him breathing new life into us, about the refreshing nature of His breath, etc. There is a certain intimacy in finding comfort in the breath of God. But lately, when I've asked the Spirit to breath life into me, I've felt overwhelmingly drawn toward the idea that the breath of God is so much more than we can even comprehend.
I mean, if you start from the beginning, God simply spoke and everything was (Gen. 1). The formation of every word starts with a breath. (Have you ever tried to speak when you're short of breath?) I think it's possible that before the words were even formed, God's breath had already started creation (Psalm 33:6). And it became more personal when, after He formed man from the dust, He breathed life into his nostrils (Gen. 2:7). Then, from that single breath, the breath of all mankind is sustained by Him (Job 12:10, Job 33:4).
His breath protects His people (2 Sam. 22:16, Psalm 18:15), makes dry bones live again (Ezk. 37:5), keeps us from speaking wickedness and deception (Job 27:3), and gives understanding to the spirit of man (Job 32:8). That same breath also slays the wicked (Isa. 11:4) consumes those who cultivate iniquity (Job 4:9), and will destroy the lawless one in the end of all things (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev.20:9). But most importantly, it was His final breath as a man that gives me new life (Luke 23:46).
And, to top it all off, after Jesus ascended back to Heaven, he sent a Helper, the Spirit of truth (John 14:16). The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, which means a current of air or breath. It is the word used every time the New Testament writers refer to the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit of God is addressed in the Old Testament, it is the Hebrew word rûah, which means wind by exhalation. So as we are comforted or convicted by the Spirit, it is literally by God's breath.
Without the breath of God, we would be nothing. It made us, sustains us, comforts us, convicts us and saves us. So next time you find yourself comforted by the breath of God, know that you are being comforted by the most powerful and commanding force in all the universe. Before every word He speaks to you, He first breathes.
Father, thank you for the breath of life, and for it's renewing presence every day. Help me to remember that when I hear Your voice, it is prefaced with the greatest power in Your breath, and that I am covered in that power by Your Spirit through Jesus Christ. It's all in Jesus' name, Amen.
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