By Strauss de Jager – NG Kerk
In the beginning when God created, we are told in Genesis 1:2 that the “earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Then, by his Word (which we later come to know as Jesus – see John 1) God infused this chaos with his wisdom and power and love, to be infinitely diverse and interconnected, useful and beautiful. The Holy Spirit did not stop acting during God’s creative project, He has been and still is active throughout history. During the reign of different kings in Israel, He provided them with wisdom and leadership qualities, e g Solomon and David. But He also withdrew from disobedient and arrogant ones like Saul – “the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14).
In the Magnificat, song of Mary the mother of Jesus, she praises God who scatters the proud and “ has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:52). In South Africa we also long and pray for the Spirit of God to work in the corridors of power for the benefit of all our people.
Maybe we just witnessed something of his slow, but sure, work in this arena over the past two weeks. The guard has been changed and a new president brings hope of a new dawn in South Africa. Let us keep on praying for President Cyril Ramaphosa and the other leaders of our land.
