The Breath Of God

Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.

Breath

Breath is not something we really like to think about. None of us ever really wants to feel someone’s breath on us. My daughters refuse to go into a cave because they say it’s like walking into an enormous mouth and all you feel is the breath. I don’t get it, but regardless, they won’t go to a cave with me.

So Why All This Talk About Breath?

If you open your Bible with me to the first chapter of Genesis, in the second verse you will find, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (NIV). This word here for Spirit is ruah. This Hebrew word is mostly translated as wind, Spirit, or breath.

When we think of wind, God’s Sprit, or His breath hovering over the water, it’s a picture that can make our imaginations run wild. If we read the next few words, we find, “And God said.” Are you with me here? The breath of God put everything into its place. The sun, the moon, stars, plants, us were all created with the breath of God. God spoke and everything came into existence. If you can, pause for a moment, and think of how powerful this is.

The Breath Of Life

Now if we keep reading and get to chapter two, we will find in verse seven, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (NIV). God not only spoke humans into being, but He breathed His own breath into us. This sets us apart from all other animals. Only with humans did God share this intimacy with.

This word for breath of life in the Hebrew is nᵉšāmâ. We can translate it as breath, blast of breath, or life source. By God breathing into us, He is our source of life.

As I mentioned last week in the post, YHWH Elohim, God breathed in us His very life and when we use His name to praise Him we are saying it with the living breath He gave us.

Ruah

This Hebrew word ruah in the New Bible Dictionary is defined as “a noun that derives from a verb meaning to breathe out through the nose with violence. Ruah occurs 378 times in the old testament. In most of these places, ruah is referred to as “wind,” which is frequently thought of as powerful or even destructive.” But it is always under God’s control and affects His will. In other places, it means to “breathe” and in others it means “spirit”. 

Wind

If you were to travel to Livingston, Montana, you would experience wind. The position of the mountains makes a tunnel for wind. Every time I get in my car it says, “high wind warning twenty miles from your location.” This wind can get so strong it has pushed over semi trucks traveling down the interstate.

This kind of wind is not usually fun, but I love hiking and standing near an overlook and feeling a breeze come across my face. When I feel this, I have always sensed God’s presence. In moments like these, I want to fall to my knees and worship Him. I am reminded that He created each one of us unique and perfect.

The Breath Of God

God made each of us by knitting us together in our mother’s womb and breathing life into us. Not one of us did God say, ‘that one is not worthy of my breath.’ Each one of us, of every tribe, nation, and tongue, has the breath of God within them. With our flaws and all, He loves each of us so much that He has shared a part of Himself with us.

I pray you will take that to heart and know how much God loves you. Not only was He willing to share a part of Himself with you, but He was willing to give His one and only Son for you. God sent Jesus to the earth to experience everything we experience. He then was beaten and hung on a cross. On the cross, He took all our sins upon Himself and He gave up His breath of life for you. After three days in the grave, that breath of life returned, and in this resurrection, He gave us eternal life.

If you have never heard this before or are still having trouble understanding the beauty of this, please email me and ask all the questions you want. I would love to share more with you and pray with you. If you know this for yourself, I celebrate with you. But please do not get comfortable basking in His love. Take that love and share it with as many people that will listen. Share with them how the breath that lives in you also lives in them. Let them know how much God wants them to experience the love He has for them.

Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ~Matthew 28:19 The Voice