And The Spirit Of God Moved Upon The Face Of The Waters
I have often said that learning to read the Bible in Hebrew is like being able to read in
three dimensions when you could only read in two dimensions before. Nothing
illustrates that more than the material in this article. For years I read the second verse
of the book of Genesis in English without ever understanding the most remarkable
subtlety hidden there. Yes, I noticed the language and I thought it was a little odd to
say:
And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2)
How strange to say God moved... How did he move? Did He walk, or swim? Did He
sort of float in the air? In what way did He move, and why is that significant?
Now, it wasn't what you would call a burning question - only a curiosity. I would pause
and think about the distinctive choice of words, but I would quickly move on to more
pressing issues. Only after I learned to read in Hebrew did the marvelous meaning of
that word come through.
I actually stumbled across the meaning in a commentary once. The meaning given was
brooded. It still did not register because to brood usually means to worry or fret. That
made no sense at all. Why would the Creator worry over the face of the waters.
Later, when I delved into the meaning of the Hebrew word for moved, m'rahaphet, I
learned that it means to flutter or shake. I discovered that it is used in Deuteronomy
32:11 where the context is very clear.
As the eagle stirs up her nest, flutters (m'rahaphet) over her young, spreads
abroad her wings...
Suddenly the meaning became clear for me. It was like a 1000 watt light bulb being
turned on in my head. I knew I had witnessed that very thing many times.
Many years ago I used to have a flock of ducks in my back yard. There was a pond and
we enjoyed having the ducks around. They were relaxing and entertaining to watch.
It was especially interesting in the spring when the hens would start to nest. They were
a domestic mallard mix. They looked like mallards except the shape of their heads. The
drakes had the bright colors but the hens were just a mottled brownish color. The hen's
markings made it easy for them to be virtually invisible when nesting. They had a
proclivity for sitting absolutely motionless on the nest, settled in and flattened out, with
their head withdrawn and lying flat into their breast feathers so as not to present a typical
duck profile. You could absolutely look directly at them and not see them unless you
were specifically looking for them. I have nearly stepped on them many times because
I did not know they were there.
Though normally shy and skittish, and unwilling to get too close, during nesting season
they seemed to have nerves of steel. They would not twitch or budge even when danger
was near, for fear of giving away the location of the nest. Only when in imminent danger
of death, or when being harassed for her eggs would a hen abandon her nest. We, of
course, did harass the hens to take some of the eggs to keep the duckling population
in control. A hen would lay an egg a day until she accumulated as many as 15-16 eggs
before starting to set. We couldn't resist allowing them to hatch at least 3-4 eggs, just
to see the cute little ducklings. Our yard was just too small to tolerate very many ducks,
but it was a challenge each spring to locate their nests so we could take some of the
eggs. You could tell when they began nesting because the hens, who were normally
with the flock, simply vanished from sight. We knew it was time to go nest hunting.
When a hen began to set it was remarkable to see her on the nest, keeping her silent
vigil for days and weeks on end, not moving a muscle. Only rarely would you notice her
leave for a few minutes to eat or drink. She would masterfully cover the nest with leaves
and grass to make it virtually invisible and to keep it warm in her brief absence. Soon
she would be back for the next shift.
Incubation time was about a month. I never counted the days - I just waited to be
surprised. Finally after days on end, I make make the morning rounds of the nests. This
morning something is different. She no longer is snuggled down quietly in the nest.
Something is different about her posture. She now seems to be sitting higher in the
nest, almost hovering over it. Her head, no more hidden, is raised erect with pride, her
wings slightly spread to cover more of the nest than before. As I look more closely, I
begin to see tiny pairs of inquisitive coal black eyes peering out curiously at me from
beneath her wings, punctuated here and there by a small yellow and black bill. It is
clear that the eggs are beginning to hatch. She will stay in that posture for the next few
hours or perhaps into the next day, until all the eggs hatch and the whole troop marches
for the nearest water like so many tin soldiers. She struts with pride, having
successfully accomplished the very purpose of her existence, obviously aware of her
changing role as teacher and protector.
But during the time she waited patiently over the nest, until all the eggs were hatched,
a careful observer would notice something - something very subtle. As she held her
slightly outstretched wings over the new brood, she would tremble or flutter
(m'rahaphet), ever so slightly, just like in Deuteronomy 32:11. Bird experts say this
careful motion is intended to stir the air and keep the temperature just right for the new
ducklings. Those precision movements reflect the meticulous focus and care that she
now lavishes on the tiny downy creatures.
It was exactly this scene that is described when the spirit of God fluttered over the face
of the waters. What a magnificent metaphor for the meticulous planning, the tireless
effort, the care, and the love that He exhibited at that moment. In taking that very first
step to prepare the earth as a sort of nest for His own children. He made it into the ideal
place for man to begin the adventure of life, to live out his collective human existence,
to learn the lessons of history, and to grow into maturity and wisdom, until finally a time
comes when has taken on the character of his Father, and the whole earth can be united
in peace and harmony in the messianic kingdom. We have cause for optimism about
the destiny of man. God will not let us fail. Though we may have many bitter lessons
to learn, He has great things in mind for man in the future. With that kind of resource
behind us, how can we fail.
(C) Copyright 1999 by Wayne Simpson
Biblical Research Foundation
629 Lexington Road
Sapulpa, Ok 74066
Reproduction and distribution is permitted provided this copyright notice is left intact on all copies.
Return to Insights menu