“You also gave Your good Ruach to teach them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouth and You gave them water for their thirst.”
Nehemiah 9:20 TLV
Wait a minute … the “Ruach” – the Holy Spirit – was present in the wilderness??
That was the question I asked my husband in the middle of today’s reading when he lovingly replied – of course – the Trinity has always been – since creation until now.
Of course I knew this in the rational, logical part of my brain – but I didn’t know it – or have revelation of it – until today. Today it was like a lightbulb went off – the Holy Spirit has been around a long time and G-d says the Spirit – His Ruach – is GOOD!
There are many opinions about the Holy Spirit and about the power of G-d today. Is He real? Is He for today? Do we need Him? What’s His role? Does He dwell IN and among believers? And what about that speaking in tongues thing…??
No matter what our views are of the Holy Spirit, no matter our understanding or experience is with Him, the Holy Spirit is real, He does exist, and He is a part of the Holy Trinity.
I think of it like this – when I first met my Kentucky Bestie, Randi, I knew immediately we were destined to be friends. Our friendship seemed to explode and grow and expand overnight as we spent time together and talked of deep things. And over time, she became the person I shouldn’t sit next to in church because one look from her makes me laugh.
The Holy Spirit is like that – He is someone we are destined to be friends with. He might begin as an acquaintance, someone we know by name initially, yet over time, as we spend time with Him, He reveals more and more about Himself, the Father, and the Son. He holds nothing back. He’s an “all in friend”.
I grew up in church, yet I never knew about the Holy Spirit until just after I accepted Yeshua as my Savior while attending Shady Grove. Shady Grove put a heavy emphasis on discipleship- membership classes were 32 WEEKS! And, if you missed too much, you started over! It was serious business!! And in discipleship, I was taught about the Holy Spirit. Though I didn’t understand everything – my thought was this: if it’s from G-d, I WANT IT!
From the wilderness, to the upper room, and beyond today, G-d gives us His Good Holy Spirit to “śāḵal” us – to cause us to consider, to teach us, and to give us insight.
I’m grateful today for the reminder of my friend, the Good Holy Spirit. I am grateful He guides me, comforts me, and speaks to me. He is a constant companion pointing me back to the Throne. Whatever your questions are about Him – just ask Him. It’s way better – and more reliable – than a second hand account.
Father – thank You for Your Holy Spirit. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Nehemiah 8-10
September 28, 2022