Editorial July 15, 1939 Issue

The Breath of God

Evelyn F. Heywood

THE reasoned eloquence of Job's three friends, their weight of human knowledge impressively delivered and the deductions drawn therefrom, did not impress the listening Elihu. He saw that for Job there was only one way of deliverance, and that it must come from within, not from without. Elihu saw that there is only one Life whereby confidence in good, success, and progress are to be found, and that Job had for the time being lost the way.

"There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding," declared Elihu. He spoke of the consciousness which draws its breath eternally from God, which discerns the remedy for all human troubles, and is inspired with the power and presence to restore men to their rightful place in the Father's house. Everywhere humanity is to be seen striving and arguing, planning and prophesying, building up and pulling down, even while "the inspiration of the Almighty" is infinitely available to banish sterility and stagnation, to bring unfoldment and increase.

This is the understanding which the writer of Proverbs likened to a wellspring of life. Unless the breath of God vivify the pursuits and kindle the affections of mankind, unless it inspire the thoughts and glorify the motives which provoke to action, be they small or great, be they in pursuit of vast enterprises or of the most insignificant undertakings, the work and its purpose will not endure. Only that to which Spirit, God, brings the warmth and glow of divine strength and beauty, is immune from reaction and disillusionment.

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