b'N O I T C E L F E Renlightenment. The ruach of God inspires the prophets to speak and raises up inspired leaders like Moses, Joshua, the judges, Saul, and David. Gods breath descends on both the prominent and the lowly, giving them faith, the gift of prayer, fidelity to the covenant, and sensitivity to Gods will and saving acts. THEBREATHIn the later books of the Old Testament the ruach of God closely associates OF GOD divine creativity with human wisdom, so that human beings seek the ruach as the greatest source of enlightenment, conscious development, and artistic insight. In this sense, the divine or holy ruach functions as the source of faith, holiness, and spiritual illumination. As such, the ruach represents Gods presence in the world. As the Hebrew understanding of God develops, the By John J. Markey ruach serves as the ongoing and practical source of Gods providential care for human beings in general and for the people of Israel in particular.The Hebrew Scriptures present another fascinating dimension of Gods relationship with human beings. In the second chapter of Genesis, God formed the first human being (Adam) out of the fertile soil (adamah)a play on wordsand blew into its nostrils the breath (ruach) of life, and so the man became a living being (Gen. 2:7). Human beings receive their life directly from lips of God, these Scriptures tell us. Ruach also means wind; in the previous chapterThis article is an excerpt from Who Is God?John J. Markey, OP, is an associate Catholic Perspectives through the Ages,professor of theology and director of Genesis, a mighty wind (ruach) sweeps over the great formless abyss, andby John J. Markey. (Winona, MN: Anselmof the Doctorate in Spirituality the process of creation ensues. Throughout much of the Old Testament theAcademic, 2016), page 24. Copyright2016Program at the Oblate School image of the ruach or breath of God serves as both a source of life and religiousby Anselm Academic. All rights reserved.of Theology in San Antonio.www.anselmacademic.org34 AspireVolume 2//Fall 2020 Subscribe today! smp.org/aspire REFLECTION 35'