The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Part 1.

By John Chopores

 

The first five books

Genesis 1:2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 

When God hovers over something there is a reason for it! In the next verse God makes something, light! Cf. 3 ¶ Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Please notice that the earth was “without form”, and that God gave form to it. Cf. Gen. 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

5  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

God is great at filling any “void” in our life. Cf. John 10:10  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.   

2 Peter 1:11  for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

Ge 6:3 ¶ And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

The Lord God did not have to give men more time: but He did! Cf. Ga 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

Genesis 41:38  And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

We see here, an early reference to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believing human being
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Exodus 31:3  "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

This sure does seem to be a baptism in the Holy Spirit! 

 

Exodus 35:31  "and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship,

Wisdom and knowledge are two of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Cf.1 Cor. 12: 7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,   

So, that man would have more chances to repent! Cf. 1Pe 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.  

 

Nu 11:25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.

God has more than enough Spirit for all His people. Cf. Joe 2:28 ¶ "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

 

We see here an example of the Holy Spirit coming upon more than one person at a time: in the Old Testament.

 

Prophecy is a Gift, which God wants all of His people, to have. Cf. 1Co 14:1 ¶ Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

 

Nu 11:29 Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

Cf. 1Co 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

 

Numbers 24:2  And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 

All true prophecy comes from God. Cf. 1 Cor. 12:10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

 

 

Nu 27:18 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Having the “Spirit of the Lord” on a person: makes that person useful for service. Cf. Ge 41:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

 

We see here, that the Holy Spirit: did live inside of people: even in the Old Testament!