THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY

The Breath of the Almighty Job 33:4 • “The Spirit of God has made me, And the Breath of the Almighty gives me life.” The phrase, the Breath of the Almighty, is unique to Job. The only other time it is mentioned in Scripture is in the previous chapter, Job 32:8. In true Hebrew poetry style, we see that the Spirit of God is equated with the Breath of the Almighty - נִשְׁמַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י (Nish’mat Shadai). So both “Spirit” and “Breath” refer to God’s Holy Spirit, particularly in His role as the creator and as the life-giver; in that He breathed life into Adam at the moment he was created (Genesis 2:7). The ministry of the Spirit is also seen in Psalm 33:6 “By the Word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the Breath of His mouth all their host.” Yeshua is identified as the Word in John 1, and together with the Breath of the LORD, the Holy Spirit, the entire host of heaven, that is the angelic realm, was created. Not only is He life-giving, He also removes life (Job 4:9). It is by Him that we have physical life, as such Job declares that he will live “as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3). It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to have a spiritual life, for Yeshua said we must be born of the Spirit as well (John 3:5-6). The Breath of the Almighty can also be seen in connection with resurrection life. We see this in the resurrection of the two witnesses: “the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet” (Revelation 11:11). We also see it with the nation of Israel in the vision of the valley of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37). As such all life, angelic and human, and resurrection and spiritual life, are a gift from the Spirit of God. He is rightly called the Spirit of Life. Furthermore, “the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding” (Job 32:8). The fullness of the Spirit rested on Messiah, as was prophesied in Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” We receive a portion of the Spirit as we could not contain the Whole. As such, we see the apostle Paul praying for the Ephesians that they would receive “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation” (Ephesians 1:17), so that they may have an understanding, and maybe enlightened and that they would come to know the hope of His calling. That prayer is also a prayer for us. It is imperative to come to an understanding of the Holy Spirit, the Breath of the Almighty, for through Him we receive wisdom and understanding. So, what do we know about the Spirit? All that He has chosen to reveal is in the inspired word, literally “breathed out.” That is, the Holy Spirit spoke to men and moved them to write, with their own words, what He revealed (2 Peter 1:21). As such “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” For what purpose? So that we all who have received the Breath of the Almighty “may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). But the most astonishing thing happened after the resurrection, when Yeshua breathed on His disciples. There and then the Breath of the Almighty was expelled and placed on the disciples, who in turn received the Holy Spirit. The resurrection life that Yeshua imparted to them was His Spirit (John 20:22). Yeshua demonstrated that He has the same authority as His Father in Heaven, and He has the source of eternal life (John 5:19, 21, 24-27), which was imparted to them. When you and I became believers, we too received the Breath of the Almighty, His Holy Spirit, who is now at work in us. Friends, let us be moved to walk worthily, in wisdom and understanding, of the calling. May we know that the Breath of the Almighty is in us. He gave us life, as we are born again through Him. Shalom & Shavua Tov (a good week). Paul