Key Character Traits of Holy Spirit:
Life-giver (Gen 2:7)
Present (Gen 6:3)
Empowering (Gen 41:38–57)
Overview
Authored by: Moses
Written in: 15 Century BC
Genre of book: Mostly Narrative
“Holy Spirit is active in the creation story to the completed story when things are fully restored.”
Synopsis:
Genesis is in the Old Testament and is within Act 1 and 2 of the storyline of Scripture. Within the overarching theme of the biblical story, Genesis contains both the beginning and the broken parts of the story.
Let’s begin with the creation story. In between God creating the heavens and the earth (v1) and God speaking light into existence (v3), there was, in essence, nothing (v2). “Tohu va-Vohu” is the Hebrew phrase for the words “without form and void,” which we see in Genesis 1:2 (ESV). It reads, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Old Testament scholar John Walton describes tohu as “lacking worth or purpose; or a place where nothing is done. It is lacking order or function.” [1]
God Fills the Void
The beginning of the creation story is a direct parallel to the salvation experience of a Christian. The first three verses in Genesis reveal three key character traits of God:
God as Creator (Genesis 1:1)
God always present (omnipresence) even within the darkness (Genesis 1:2)
God moving by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:2) [2]
God’s creative expression within the formless and void is a physical representation of soteriological theology (the doctrine of salvation).
Imago dei
Genesis 1:27 shares that humans are created in the image of God (imago dei). Humans made of flesh and blood yet spiritually empty, longing for meaning (see Ephesians 2:1-6). People are spiritually void until God’s light shines in the darkness of their souls, awakening them to salvation. Scripture shares that God takes those created with a chaotic soul and establishes order through salvation in Christ (see 2 Co 4:4-6).
Ordered and Disordered
We can see a broader need for God within the microcosmos of narratives represented throughout Genesis. The people God created are in chaos, and over and over again, God fills and shapes their lack of purpose.
Here are a few examples:
Cain and Abel (human-made chaos): Both gave offerings to God. Cain was angry that God looked down on his offering and wanted to murder his brother because of it. God fills their lack of purpose by warning Cain that sin was crouching at his door and he must rule over it. (Gen 4)
Noah and his family (circumstantial chaos): Humanity declined into greater sin and evil. God fills their lack of purpose by re-creating humanity. God told Noah to build an ark and brought pairs of animals and his family on it. They restarted civilization after God flooded the earth.(Gen 6-7)
Babylonians (human-made chaos):Wanted to create a name for themselves by creating a tower that reaches the heavens. God fills their lack of purpose by diversifying humanity by causing confusion within their language and scattering the people. (Gen 11:1-9)
Survey of Genesis - God's Order and Human's Disorder
The entire book of Genesis spans 50 chapters. A brief summary is as follows:
Genesis 1–2: Creation of Order
God creates a perfectly ordered world, establishing structure and harmony. Humanity is placed in Eden to maintain this order.
Genesis 3: The Fall and Disorder
Sin enters through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, introducing disorder into creation, relationships, and the world itself.
Genesis 4–11: Growing Disorder
Violence and corruption spread, climaxing in the flood, where God resets the chaotic world. However, disorder returns, as seen in the Tower of Babel, which showed human pride and rebellion against God's order.
Genesis 12–25: Order Through Covenant
God begins restoring order through His covenant with Abraham, a sacred agreement that promises land, descendants, and blessing, despite human failings.
Genesis 26–36: Jacob’s Chaotic Journey
Jacob’s life is filled with deceit and struggle, yet God gradually brings order, transforming Jacob into Israel, the patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Genesis 37–50: Joseph and God’s Providence
Joseph’s betrayal and suffering lead to God’s ultimate restoration of order, as Joseph saves his family and fulfills God’s purposes despite human chaos.
A common survey of Genesis is by generations. Lexham Context Commentary’s survey looks like this:
Primeval History (1:1–11:26)
The Generations of Adam (1:1–5:32)
Noah and His Family (6:1–11:26)
Patriarchs (11:27–50:26)
Abraham and Isaac (11:27–25:18)
Isaac and Jacob (25:19–36:43)
The Generations of Jacob (the Joseph-Judah Story) (37:1–50:26) [3]
Learning Theology
To summarize what you learned to far — Genesis explores the connection between God’s order and human disorder, revealing God’s persistent work to restore creation. The Triune God is turning broken things into beauty all the time.
There are four verses specifically mentioning the Spirit of God within Genesis. They’re listed below.
Click each link to read about each verse in detail.
Key Character Traits of Holy Spirit in Genesis:
Creator (Gen 1:2) READ MORE
Life-giver (Gen 2:7)
Present (Gen 6:3)
Empowering (Gen 41:38–57)
“The same Spirit who moved over the formless void at creation is still at work today, ready to point you to Christ to fill your emptiness.”
Living Out Theology
The opposite of a surrendered life is a life enslaved to self, warring against the will or purpose of God. A surrendered-to-God life is one of great freedom that thrives; a warring life becomes unhinged in the complexity of turmoil.
Echoed throughout Genesis holds the promise of a creative God who brings order to the disordered. This disorder isn’t always within material circumstances but metaphysical in nature. Author Sean Gladding writes, “Do we grimly strive after control over lives that are effectively uncontrollable, or do we surrender our lives to the God who promises, trusting God to provide all our needs?”[4]
We see this theme play out in the book of Genesis as God establishes and brings order.
What does this mean for us as followers of Christ?
Consider This: Are there areas in your life where you feel uncertain or hesitant? Have you received the Spirit of God to breathe fresh perspective and life into your circumstance? Genesis reveals that even in the most chaotic and broken moments, God consistently steps in to reorder, renew, and restore. Time and again, He transforms disarray into purpose.
The same Spirit who moved over the formless void at creation is still at work today, ready to point you to Christ to fill your emptiness and shape your path. Will you invite Him to bring order and clarity to your uncertainty?
Footnotes:
1 John Walton, “Origins Today: Genesis through Ancient Eyes with John Walton, Seedbed, Franklin, TN, Video posted May 4, 2014, https://youtu.be/fR82a-iueWw.
2 The NRSV version translates Genesis 1:2 “The earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” Whereas the NASB translates to “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” Thus we can conclude the Holy Spirit was moving within the story of Creation.
3 Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Ge 37:1–50:26.
4 Sean, Gladding, 2010. The Story of God, the Story of Us: Getting Lost and Found in the Bible. Westmont: InterVarsity Press., 62.
