It is with interest that we noted the pagan Pharoah recognizing the presence of the Spirit of God in Joseph (Genesis 41:38). The presence of the Holy Spirit with man will be the focus of our consideration in this final post of the series. In order to do so, we will expand our view beyond Genesis to include the five books of the Pentateuch (Torah). Across these books of Moses, four characters are highlighted as being specially visited with the Spirit.
We have already noticed the Spirit’s effect in Joseph’s life. The record reveals a son, beloved of his father, hated by his brothers, sold by them into Egypt and ill-treated there, but eventually rising to the status of “Saviour of the World” (Genesis 45).
Moses was endowed, by the Lord, with the Spirit. As leader, and the one through whom God executed the deliverance of the nation of Israel from Egypt, he was given the necessary help that only God can provide. Even with this divine help, he carried a heavy burden. Yet God graciously empowered the elders of Israel with some of the Spirit that was on Moses so they could share his burden, and it is in that particularly trying time that we learn explicitly of the Spirit’s activity in him (Numbers 11:17,25).
In Exodus 31, God informs Moses that He has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God in order for him to have the requisite skills and abilities to accomplish the construction of the intricate tabernacle furniture. These pieces were beyond the abilities of a natural craftsman. An artisan still needed supernatural gifting to accomplish their fabrication according to God’s pattern, as communicated via Moses.
At the end of Moses’ life, he is told by God to appoint a new leader who will take the nation of Israel out of the wilderness and into the promised land. Joshua is appointed to this position as “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Numbers 27:18). In the energy of the Spirit, Joshua successfully leads the people across the Jordan and into the conquest of the promised land.
These four Spirit-filled men provide a composite of Jesus’ life and His activity on our behalf. He himself was filled with the Spirit on the occasion of His baptism when the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16). Jesus recapitulates Joseph’s life as the beloved Son who was rejected by those who should have embraced Him (John 1:11), yet ultimately was the means of their salvation. Jesus supersedes Moses as the One who delivers and redeems with His own blood. Furthermore, the “law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Having set us free from the slavery of sin, Jesus unites us to God in the temple which is His body (Ephesians 2:21-22). Like Bezalel, He fashions us by the Spirit into worthy ministers of God in this interim dwelling place, on our way home to God. Finally, we look to our heavenly Joshua (Jesus) who will bring us to glory (Hebrews 2:10), and our final rest in God’s kingdom (cp. Hebrews 4).
As we close our consideration of the Spirit’s activity in the early books of the Bible, recapitulated in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded of His teaching in the upper room (John 13-17) as He contemplated His return to heaven by the way of the cross. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). He was going away, but He was leaving with the promise that He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell all who put their trust in Him. And He kept His promise (Acts 2)!
So, it is the happy privilege of all New Testament believers to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17).
For further consideration: note the link between the gifting of men in Ephesians 4 and the various Spirit-filled men already discussed.
