Holy Spirit Hovers
As we get to know Holy Spirit more, we can better understand how to welcome Him into our home. Let’s go back to the very beginning, to creation, for some insight into who Holy Spirit is. Personally, I had never thought about Holy Spirit’s role in creation, but we see it here in Genesis 1:1-2 New American Standard Bible (italics mine):
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
This word “moving” H7363 rachaph (raw-khaf) is sometimes translated as “hovered” (see below). In Hebrew this word means “to grow soft, hover, brood, flutter, move, shake.” To better understand the real meaning here, let’s look at another verse that uses this same word, Deuteronomy 32:11-12 (again italics mine), where God is speaking about Jacob (Israel):
Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
That hovers over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
The Lord alone guided him,
And there was no foreign god with him.
The word translated “moving” in Genesis 1:2 is the same word “hover” used here in Deuteronomy 32:11-12. This moving, brooding and hovering is when the eagle sits over her eggs, hovers over them, then stirs the nest for them to learn to fly and catches them on her wings, lovingly protecting them. The eagle is helping them grow by her presence as she anticipates them hatching, then flying, then soaring. Sort of like when you are pregnant, and you cannot wait to meet your baby, because your heart is filled with so many hopes for your precious child and the life he or she will live.
Just as the eagle brooded over her young, the Spirit of God brooded over the waters. There was nothingness, yet because Holy Spirit was God and part of the divine trinity, He knew what was coming.
God was getting the earth ready. He was getting the garden ready. He was about to create man. God was about to breathe His life into man (Genesis 2:7), and we know that Holy Spirit is the breath of God (John 20:22).
He knew that after Adam sinned and was cast from the garden, Jesus would be sent to rescue man. He knew that EVEN BEFORE GOD CREATED THE WORLD (1 Peter 1:18-20), the Trinity of God had planned for Jesus to offer Himself as the sacrificial lamb (see also Ephesians 1:3-5) bringing man back into the garden of fellowship with God. There was great anticipation and Holy Spirit knew the plan of redemption was on the horizon.
Even before Jesus came, Holy Spirit knew that He would come upon and dwell in men like Joshua and Daniel.
Yet, something even more astonishing was coming! Holy Spirit knew that He would one day indwell any man who proclaimed Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Can you imagine the exhilaration that Holy Spirit must have felt? No wonder He was brooding over the waters. This brooding is also interpreted as fluttering and shaking. If you can imagine someone so excited that they shake or quiver. Our granddaughter used to shake with excitement when we could get the crayons and markers out for her to color, and she would say, “I’m excited!” This is the same kind of excitement that I imagine Holy Spirit had as the world was about to be created, as man was about to be created, as Holy Spirit anticipated dwelling in redeemed man.
Can you see how Holy Spirit wants to come indwell, fill, anoint, renew and fellowship with you (see the chart in Part I of this series for verses on these actions)? Can you feel the anticipation that Holy Spirit has as He waits to be invited first into our hearts and lives, and then into our homes through Jesus? And Jesus Himself gives us an invitation to dine with Him in Revelation 3:20:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
This invitation was written to the church in Laodicea. It was written to believers. So there is a standing invitation for you from Jesus, through Holy Spirit, to dine with Him. Will you open the door and invite Him in? Will you make Him feel welcome in your home?
So moms, let’s be mindful that
HOLY SPIRIT WANTS TO BE PRESENT FULLY IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR HOMES.
In His Love,
Suzanne
Mom Morsels 