Did Abraham and the Patriarchs work with the Holy Spirit?
 |
| Molnár József: Ábrahám kiköltözése (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Someone has said, “The story of the Bible is the story of Spirit-filled men.” This may not seem very apparent in the history of the patriarchs, but it would be very strange if Abraham, whom Paul upholds as one of the greatest examples of faith (Romans 4:1–22; Galatians 3:6–18), were not a man of the Spirit.
Actually, there is one clear indication that he was, though the circumstances are somewhat strange. Abraham had called his wife his sister (actually, she was his half-sister) and allowed her to be taken into King Abimelech’s harem. When a treaty was made allowing a powerful man with a large following to stay in a neighbor’s country, custom demanded that the treaty be sealed by depositing a daughter or sister in the harem as a hostage to guarantee the good behavior of the guest. God took them where they were and undertook to protect Sarah by warning Abimelech to return her to Abraham. Since Abraham was a prophet he would then pray for Abimelech (Genesis 20:7).
Prophet means a spokesman for God. (See Exodus 7:1; 4:16; Deuteronomy 18:18–22.) More importantly, prophets were men of the Spirit: “men spoke from God as they were carried along [borne along, led along] by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
Abraham deserved the designation of prophet, for God spoke to him often and gave him directions not only for himself but for others as well. Abraham also spoke to others and called on others to worship God. His altars were invitations to public worship where he witnessed to the truth of the one God. His intercession for Sodom also was the sort of thing that characterized the prophets. Most prophets were intercessors, especially Moses (Numbers 14:13–20; Deuteronomy 9:20); Samuel (1 Samuel 7:5; 12:19, 23); Jeremiah (7:16); and Amos (7:2, 5).
God answered Abraham’s prayer for Abimelech (Genesis 20:17). Later, the Psalmist applied the principle taught in this passage to the rest of the patriarchs: Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Psalm 105:9–22). Concerning them this psalm says (105:15), “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” Joseph especially was recognized for the anointing of which the psalm speaks. After he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh said, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38). Pharaoh saw there was no other explanation of the wisdom and insight this Hebrew slave and recent convict demonstrated. Joseph truly was a Spirit-filled man, equipped by the Spirit of God for the work he was called to do.
Horton, S. M. (2005). What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit (pp. 23–25). Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.
