“The Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit”

by David M. Cook

The Biblical narrative has central characters to the overarching story.  A primary character of the Biblical narrative is the promised Messiah (Moshiach in Hebrew, which means “anointed”) The Moshiach is mentioned in the beginning in the book of Genesis and throughout the Tanach.  The Moshiach made His advent into visible human history in the fullness of time, as foretold by the Jewish prophets.   The prophet Micah foretold that Moshiach would be born in Bethlehem the city of David.  Micah gives us this insight of Moshiach that He existed from long ago, from ancient days, from eternity past.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to

Be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity.”

Micah 5:2 NASB

Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) begins the Biblical narrative with these words,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” [1]

The Hebrew word used here for God is Elohim.  Elohim is a plural masculine noun for God.  Why did Moshe chose a plural noun for God?

Elohim said,

“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;” 

Genesis 1:26 NASB

Here in the first chapter of Genesis Moshe quotes Elohim speaking to other Persons of the triune Elohim in the plural.  Is Moshe consistent in the the Torah about the nature of Elohim?

“Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” 

Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB

Why did Moshe use the word “one” to describe Yehovah Elohim?  Moshe wanted Israel to understand that Yehovah Elohim is one, a unified one.  The word “one” in Hebrew is “echad”, which like the English word “one” has more than one meaning.  The word echad can mean one alone, that is a singularity; or a unified one, such as the Holy Trinity.  The Yehovah our Elohim is a unified one Lord.  Was Moshe theologically wrong to use a plural noun for God?  Did Moshe misquote Elohim when He said, “Let Us make man in Our image”?  Who are the “Us” or Co-Creators involved in the creation of man?  Moshe was not wrong to use the plural noun Elohim as the Creator of the heavens and earth, but very accurate; Moshe wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord.

 ¹² “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called;
I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.
¹³ “Surely My hand founded the earth,
And My right hand spread out the heavens;
When I call to them, they stand together.

Isaiah 48:12-13 NASB

Isaiah explains more of who was involved in the creation of the heavens and the earth in Isaiah chapter 48, verses 12-16.  The “Me” mentioned in verse 12 is identified as “I am the first, I am also the last” who is the maker of the heavens.  Who is the “I AM the First, I AM the Last” who made the heavens and the earth?  If we look back in Isaiah 48, verse 2 we see the “Me” is identified as “the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts”.  The Lord of hosts (Yĕhovah Tzeva’ot) is the Commander of heavens armies.

The Lord of hosts, is the First and the Last; who created the heavens and the earth.  In chapter 48, verse 16 we see that the “Lord of hosts”, who is “the First and the Last” maker of the heavens and the earth was sent by the “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yĕhovah in Hebrew).  What is the significance of the fact that the Lord GOD sent the Lord of hosts?  We see that the theology of the Tanach is consistent with the teaching of Yeshua the Moshiach and the New Testament writers.   The belief that Elohim is a unified one Lord is supported by numerous scriptures throughout the Tanach, one being Isaiah 48:16 which includes a reference to three distinct divine Persons.

“And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

Isaiah 48:16 NASB

1. Lord GOD
2. “Me”
3. His Spirit

So who is this “Me’ in verse 16?  The “Me” in verse 16 is the Lord of hosts, the First and the Last who created the heavens and the earth.  If we turn to the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation to find a clue who this mystery Person is.  The apostle John writes, “Fear not, ‘I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18 John reveals that the one speaking is Yeshua the risen Savior, the promised Moshiach.  Yeshua is the Lord of host; who said, “I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.”

1. Lord GOD = Adonai Yĕhovah
2. “Me” = Lord of hosts (Yĕhovah Tzeva’ot)
3. His Spirit = His Ruach (Spirit of Adonai Yĕhovah) [2]

“And now Adonai Yĕhovah has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

Isaiah 48:16

Is what Isaiah wrote concerning the nature of God consistent with the teachings of Yeshua?  Is Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 48 consistent with the New Testament writers about the nature of God?

The apostle John wrote;

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God. 

He was in the beginning with God. 

All things came into being by Him,

and apart from Him nothing came into being

that has come into being.” [3]

The apostle Paul is in agreement with both the Jewish prophet Isaiah and John the apostle.  Paul wrote to believers in Yeshua the Moshiach and explained to them about how Elohim’s plan is centered on His beloved Son, the incomparable Moshiach;

“For He delivered us from the domain of darkness,

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

And He is the image of the invisible God,

the first-born of all creation. 

For by Him all things were created,

both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—

all things have been created by Him and for Him. 

And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” [4]

John tells us this about Yeshua the promised Moshiach;

“There was the true light which,

coming into the world, enlightens every man. 

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,

and the world did not know Him. 

He came to His own, (the Jewish People)

and those who were His own did not receive Him. 

But as many as received Him,

to them He gave the right to become children of God,

even to those who believe in His name,

who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man, but of God.” [5]

So we see that what Isaiah wrote in chapter 48 is consistent with what Moshe wrote in the Torah, as well as the writings of the New Testament apostles and the teachings of the Moshiach Himself.

1. Lord GOD = Adonai Yĕhovah = Father in heaven
2. “Me” = Yĕhovah Tzeva’ot = Son of God (Adonai Yeshua Moshiach)
3. His Spirit = Ruach of the Adonai Yĕhovah = Spirit of the Lord GOD

Yeshua the Moshiach said;

“My sheep hear My voice,

and I know them, and they follow Me;

and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish;

and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;

and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 

I and the Father are one.”  [6]

The Moshiach and His Father in heaven are echad, a unified one Elohim.  The Adonai Yĕhovah (Lord GOD) sent Yeshua the promised Moshiach in the fullness of time just as the Jewish prophets foretold.  So Isaiah was writing under under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord in his book to Israel when he wrote quoting the per-incarnate Moshiach;

“The Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit” [7]

Yeshua returned to Nazareth, where He grew up; and as was His norm, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.  The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.  He opened the book and turned to the place where it was written;

“The Spirit of Adonai Yehovah is upon Me,

Because Yehovah has anointed Me

To bring the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To announce liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners;

To announce the year of favor of Yehovah.”

He closed the book, and He gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

Every one in the synagogue fixed their eyes on Him.

Then He said; Today this scripture is fulfilled as you listen.

Luke 4:16-21 HSV

Yeshua read from Isaiah chapter 61:1-2, in this scripture we see the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of  Adonai Yehovah is upon His Son the Messiah.  Yehovah anointed His Son to bring the gospel to the poor.  Yehovah sent His Son, Messiah Yeshua to heal the brokenhearted.  Here is an original song about the fulfillment of this prophecy in Isaiah chapter 61 by Lara Landon from her OVERCOME album, “The Spirit of the Lord”.

http://www.laralandononline.com/

[1] Genesis 1:1 NASB

[2] His Ruach Adonai Yehovah (see Isaiah 61:1)

[3] John 1:1-3 NASB

[4] Colossians 1:13-17 NASB

[5] John 1:9-13 NASB

[6] John 10:27-30 NASB

[7] Isaiah 48:16 NASB