This morning in Bible Fellowhip, I was fascinated by the question “Why do we not often discuss the Holy Spirit” or the “Forgotten Person of the Trinity.” One possible answer was that the Spirit is not mentioned as much. Another, possibly more interesting, answer is that the Spirit is less tangible (offered by Emily). Similarly, I thought that it might be that “Father” and “Son” are person types, whereas “Spirit” is not.

We began our study right at the beginning of Genesis and I had one of those moments in which I wonder how I had never noticed something before. Gen 1:2 reads:

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.

I was struck by two things:

1. That the Spirit was hovering the earth from Day 1. This was not only before man, but also before even light or form. The Spirit has been there from the very beginning.
2. The term “hovering” struck me as a curious word to use (although I don’t know what else a spirit might do in an empty and formless world). KJV uses “moved.” This word, translated from rachaph (Strong’s H7363), is used in only two other places in the Old Testament, Deut 32:11 and Jer 23:9. Strong’s translates it as 1) to grow soft, relax and 2) to hover. I guess one way to put it is “to move or be moved.” I sense that there is an indication of protection, but I would like to study this further at another time.

The fascinating point is that no matter how little attention we may pay to Him, he’s always been there. Sure, He may have not permanently indwelt anyone until Pentecost, but this pervasive protection or watching over has always been there.