1 Ruach Elohim The Spirit of God
Genesis 1:2
2 Ruach Has Several Meanings
“The word derives from a verb meaning to breathe, and its noun form sometimes means breath (Ge. 6:17; Ps. 146:4); sometimes, air (Job 41:16); sometimes, wind (Ge. 8:1); and sometimes, spirit (Ps. 31:5)” (Hugo McCord, Getting Acquainted With God, Henderson, TN: Hester Publications, 2002).
3 Ruach Elohim Means Spirit of God
All of the other 94 times Ruach Elohim is used in the Old Testament it is translated “Spirit of God.”Both Job 26:13 and Psalm 104:30 clearly indicate the Spirit had a role in creation.It should also be remembered that Genesis 1:26 indicates God had a partner, or partners.
4 Facts About the SpiritOnly the Spirit knows the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).He has a mind, hears and speaks (John 16:13).He feels deeply (Ephesians 4:30).He lives in Christians and in heaven prays for them (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:26-27).He invites us to become children of God (Revelation 22:17).
5 The Nature of God God is a spiritual being (John 4:24).
God does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).Nor does God have flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15:50), so language describing God with physical features must be taken as figurative (Exodus 15:8; 33:23; 24:10; Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 11:4; 91:4).It is hard to understand how some religious people have taught God is “flesh and bones” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22).
6 God Is Invisible God is invisible to human eyes (Colossians 1:15).
No man has seen, or can see, God (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16).Since a Spirit is invisible, no human eyes have ever observed the true essence of deity (Colossians 1:15).
7 Yet, God Has Made Himself Known
God manifested himself as a man in Abraham’s tent door (Genesis 18).He appeared in the fire to Moses (Exodus 3).He appeared as a thick cloud to Israel (Exodus 19).He revealed himself to Elijah in a voice (1 Kings 19:12).He came in the flesh (Matthew 1:23; John 14:9).
8 God Is Neither Mortal or Local
God is not subject to corruption (1 Corinthians 15:50).God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:16).God is not isolated to one spot (1 Kings 8:27).Man cannot go anywhere it can be said there is not God (Psalm 139:7-12).
9 The Spirit Teaches About Man’s Nature
Man was made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) in the sense that God has given him a spirit (Zechariah 12:1).God is the father of our spirits, the one from whom our spirits come and to whom our spirits go (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Hebrews 12:9).
10 Man’s Spirit Is Eternal
Man’s body can serve as the temple of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).It is only the spirit of man that lives (John 6:63).Both the body and the food that sustains it will perish (1 Corinthians 6:13).
