The Bible names of God

Introduction:

What’s in a name? - The names of God

In western society names are not all that important. A name is really just a label that you use to identify yourself or something that helps aid clear communication.  There are times when nick names are used as terms of endearment – ‘Oh how mummy loves Tiny Tim’, but minutes later it’s ‘Timothy Jones clear up your room!’.  Many a poor unsuspecting child is named after family members and has to bear the burden of being called Horatio Hoffminster Hildebrand Jones for life. 

Names in African culture are important and often express something of the emotions when a child is born.  So you have names like Joy, Blessing, Goodwill and Precious. 

 The story is told of a pregnant lady who was involved in a motor accident.   While unconscious she gave birth to twins.  When she eventually regained consciousness she was told that her brother was looking after the twins for her.  She was greatly disturbed as her brother was not the most responsible person in the world.  To add to her distress she heard that he had named the children.  She asked the nurse ‘what has he called them?’ ‘Well he has called the girl Denise.’  ‘That doesn’t sound too bad’ said the mother.  ‘What has he called the boy?’  ‘De nephew,’ relied the nurse. 

 In Bible times names were important and told you something about the individual.  The name Jacob meant ‘deceiver’ and no doubt Esau understood why [1].  The story of Ruth is better understood when you understand the meaning of the names of the characters in the book.  Ruth means ’pity or compassion.’  Naomi means ‘pleasant’ and that describes her life before the death of her husband and sons. After their death she calls herself Mara which means ‘bitter.’

The name of the tax collector Zacchaeus means the ‘righteous one’, it was no wonder that he was not all that popular[2] being the righteous extortioner.

In the English translation of the Bible we often miss some of the real impact of what is being said as we don’t always distinguish between the different names that   are used of God.  Sometimes reference is made to the names that are used in the margin of some translations of the Bible.

God’s names help us to understand His character.

1. Elohim – The Great One – Genesis 17:1-14, 35:11-15

The name Elohim is used throughout the first chapter of Genesis to describe God.  Take some time to read Genesis chapter 1 inserting the words ‘the one who is great and mighty’ in place of the word God to get a better understanding of what the writer is trying to convey to you.  In the original the word Elohim

is used 32 times in the first chapter of Genesis.  The word is used 2700 times in the Bible.  The word is designed to bring awe and worship.  It is the word used to describe God when he made promises to Abraham and Jacob[3].

In Genesis 17 when God meets with Abraham He uses the name ‘God Almighty’ to describe Himself (more will be said of this name in the next chapter)  and then He is referred to in the rest of the chapter as ‘the Great One’.  God who is the Great One and who is  Almighty and is able to create by speaking a simple word, is now concerned to meet with Abraham and Jacob in their different circumstances and make incredible promises to them.  Their responses to God are different as Abraham responds in obedience[4] and Jacob worships[5].  When you understand something of God’s greatness and might your response can only be obedience and worship.

In years gone by the phrase that ’he is a man of his word’ was used often to describe a person.  Truth decay is a common problem in our society today and you find it hard to depend on anyone.  How often have you not heard the words ‘ the cheque is in the post’ or ’ we will deliver it to morrow’ only to be disappointed.  In days gone by a person’s word was an extension of their character.  So it is with God the Great and Mighty One, He is as good as His word.  That must have been a great encouragement to Abraham who received amazing promises   about the birth of a son in his old age[6].

The word Elohim is plural and is the first hint of the Trinity in the Bible.

The character of the Great One should give great confidence to those who follow Him.

God is as good as His word!

Dig Deeper: Genesis 17: 1-27,  35:1-29,  Genesis 1

Think through:  Does your concept of God lead you to obedience and worship?

                            Does the word ‘confidence’ enter you mind when thinking about

                            God?

                             Does your name endorse your character?

                            Are you as good as your word?

                             How does the greatness of God effect your day to day decision

                              making?

2. The Powerful One – El Shaddai – Genesis 17:1, Ephesians 1:11-23

Power is a word that is in constant usage today.  Political leaders are perceived by many to be power mad.  Power struggles take place everyday in business, in our homes and sadly even in the church.  The faces of power obsessed politicians on our television screens does very little to bring a sense of calm or stability.  The headlines in 2004 that the world’s most powerful nation had invaded Iraq brought no sense of security to anyone.

Lord Acton’s famous remark ‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ is well known and often quoted.  The words power and powerful make most people fearful and apprehensive.

When we speak about God being powerful, people want to back away because of their negative misconceptions about power.  The word El Shaddai means that God has all power in heaven and on earth.  This is very important because it means that God is able to harness all the powers of nature and use them as He pleases.  Paul in his writings says ‘ God is able to work out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will’[7].  That means that the all powerful God is able to harness what ever He needs and use it for our benefit and blessing.

Think about Abraham’s reaction when he is told by the great creator God who is almighty that he will father a son in his old age .[8]  The God who is able to do what seems beyond the natural will ensure that the aging Sarah will have a child.  God is the all sufficient one. 

This name the Powerful One doesn’t in anyway present God as an object of fear and terror but as the source of blessing and comfort for the Christian.  Jesus tells us that ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him’[9].  Paul reminds us that’ God appointed Jesus head over everything’ - for what purpose? -  For the benefit of those who belong to Him![10]

 The amazing thing is this that Almighty God is right now using His limitless resources and power for you!

Remember: God says ‘My power works best in your weakness.’[11]

Dig Deeper: Genesis 18:1-15, Jeremiah 32:27, Matthew 26:53, And Ephesians 3:20+21, Ephesians 3:9-10

Think through:  Are your ideas of power different to the Bibles?

                            How do you use or abuse any position of influence that you

                            have?

                             If God’s power is for your benefit and blessing, how will

                             that affect your approach to life?

                              How would you explain to someone what it really means

                              to fear God?

                               It seems paradoxical to speak of God’s power seen in our

                               weakness, how do you reconcile this paradox?

3. The God who rules – Adonai – Isaiah 6: 1-13 + John 12:37- 43

Throughout the ages people have always been impressed by rulers and their so called power.  Powerful rulers come and go, men like Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great and the Caesars.  Modern day tyrants Stalin, Lennon, Idi Amin and Saddam Hussian have had their subjects cringing in fear at their power and unpredictability.

It is ironic that the name Caesar was held in such high esteem and the name Matthew was despised, now ten’s of thousands of people call their sons Matthew and their dogs Caesar.  How times have changed!

The name Adonai literally means the ‘one who rules or judges.’  It tells of the all powerful God who rules. This name is used 300 times of God  in the Old Testament.  It tells of God’s ownership and rule over everything that there is.  When this name is used of God it calls for a positive response from us.  It tells of God’s Lordship of all things and it calls for submission and stewardship on our part.

In chapter six of Isaiah’s prophecy the death of King Uzziah is recorded.  He had ruled the nation for 52 years.  It had been a golden age and the nation was stable and prosperous.  Now suddenly all this changed and their was instability and uncertainty and the peoples routines were now disturbed.

 It is with this background that Isaiah goes to the temple and has an encounter with the Lord (Adonai) who was seated on his throne and was high and exalted[12].  Isaiah’s earthly Lord and ruler had died, but he was clearly reminded that his heavenly King was alive and well and ruling from His heavenly throne and was worthy of worship .Rulers come and go but God remains consistent[13]. 

 John in his Gospel clearly tells us that it was the Lord Jesus Christ that Isaiah met in his temple experience[14].  When you met with the Lord like Isaiah did you need to respond?  Isaiah’s response was worship and then he made himself available for service[15].  That pattern should be our pattern every day as we respond to God and His Word.  After you have met with God in worship the natural overflow should be service.  Many spiritual problems a rise from an in-balance in this area. 

All worship and no service is no good and all doing and no worship is just as bad!

Why is it that those who claim to worship God at church, look more like they are sitting in the dentist’s waiting room? 

Dig Deeper: Revelation 1:12-18, Job 42:1-6 + Revelation 5:11-14

Think Through: How does the rule (the Lordship) of Christ effect your

                            lifestyle?

                            Do you worship daily and then respond with service?

                             In the light of God’s rule over all, how does that effect

                             how you view today’s dictators and tyrants?

                                Does the relative prosperity of our time make you complacent

                             like the people during Uzziah’s reign?

4. The provider – Jehovah Jireh – Genesis 22:1-19

The name Jehovah is the most commonly used title of God in the Old Testament, it is used 6800 times.  The key meaning behind the name is that God is unchanging, ever living and self existent.  In simple terms ‘God is dependant on no one.’ In a world of great need we all need to realize that it is not our great technological advances and learning that meet our needs but rather that we have a good and generous God who is concerned about all people[16].

Paul makes it clear that God will look after all our needs but not our greed’s[17]. Those statements that are made by Paul need to be understood in the context of being content[18].

In the well known story of Abraham being told to sacrifice his only son the name that is used to describe God is Jehovah Jireh[19] meaning God the provider.  Try putting yourself in this situation, where God tells you to sacrifice the son that he has given you in old age.  After a 25 year wait all your dreams come true your hopes for the future seem on track and then you’re told to do something cruel and barbaric.

But, Abraham who knew God as ‘God Almighty’ asks no questions but obeys.  The servants are left at the foot of the mountain and two lonely figures make their way up the mountain.  Abraham has complete confidence in the God who will provide[20], notice the confident words ‘we will come back.’  Isaac has questions and they are met with the confident response, ‘God Himself will provide’[21].

When Abraham is poised and ready to do all that God had told him to do – God intervenes and a ram is provided in Isaac’s place and Abraham names the place ‘the Lord will provide.’[22]  Much emphasis is placed upon the fact that the Lord provides in church circles today’ sadly we seem to over look the single minded obedience of Abraham to God’s word to him.

The Lord will meet all our needs not all our greed’s.

Dig Deeper: Hebrews 11:8-19,  2Corinthians 9:6-15, + Acts 17:22-31 (NB v 25)

Think Through: Do you take for granted all that God has provided for you?

      What is your focus needs or greed’s?

      Do you think that obedience guarantees your needs being met?

                            Why do you think that God put Abraham through such a test?

       Is this quote true of you, ‘We buy things we don’t need, with

       money that we don’t have to impress people we don’t like?’                                                                                         

5. God our Peace – Jehovah Shalom – Judges 6:11-24

The Nobel Peace   prize is awarded annually to a person or persons who have endeavoured to bring peace in to situations that often seem beyond help.  Bishop Desmond Tutu received the prize in 1984 for his endeavours at peace making in strife torn South Africa.  In 1993   Nelson Mandela and F.W De Klerk shared the Peace prize for their efforts at peace making as South Africa moved towards democracy.  Sadly even though change has taken place and there is a more just dispensation in place it is not Utopia and peace is something that most people still desire.  Peace is the rather elusive dream that many strive for.

The book of Judges gives the history of Israel in some of its darkest hours.  We are introduced to Gideon and find that he lives in a time when Israel are under the rule of the Midianites. The Israelites had disobeyed God and were now reaping the consequences of their sin[23].  There was no peace or rest for them. What ever crops they planted were plundered by the enemy and the people faced ruin and starvation.  Gideon is introduced in the story as a rather sorry figure hiding from his enemies while trying to provide a merge living for his family[24] .

When the Angel of the Lord greets Gideon it seems ironic that he is called a mighty warrior[25].  Gideon had many questions and he wondered how he was going to be a blessing to his people and their deliverer[26].  Gideon’s response was to sacrifice to the Lord. The sacrifice was consumed by fire and he realised that he was in the Lord’s presence and he was fearful.  The Lord’s response to him was, ‘Peace do not be afraid.’[27]

Gideon’s response was to build an altar and call the place ‘the Lord is peace.’[28]  The word shalom/peace conveys the idea of wholeness, fullness and completeness.

Real peace is found in Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace.  The peace He gives is not the cessation of hostility in the world but:

Peace with God[29]

The peace of God[30]

The peace of Christ ruling in your heart[31]

The angels announced the birth of Jesus with the words, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.’[32]   Jesus didn’t come to bring world peace but He gives you peace that helps you live in a hostile world.

‘Since 3600 BC there have been 14351 wars in which 3.64 billion people have been killed.’

The United Nations have peace keepers but Jesus Christ is the peacemaker

Dig Deeper: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:8-20, John 14:27 +16:31-33,

Philippians 4:4-9 + Romans 5:1-11.

Think Through:  What can you as a Christian do to contribute to world peace?

                               If peace means wholeness, fullness and completeness,

                             how has the peace of Jesus affected your life/lifestyle?

                             With all the failures at peace keeping around the world

                              should we as Christians ignore these efforts or support them?

                              How would you explain the peace that you as a Christian have

                              experienced to an unbeliever?

                              What do you think the central theme of Christmas should be?

6. Jehovah Rohi – God my Shepherd – Psalm 23

Sheep are not the most intelligent creatures in the world!  While travelling in rural Africa you face many hazards, like potholes, overcrowded and overloaded buses and adventurous or maybe suicidal commuter taxi drivers over taking on blind hair-pin bends. 

The greatest danger of all is livestock especially at night as they cross the road without warning.  For some unknown reason the goats seem to be streetwise and skilfully avoid and negotiate the traffic but the sheep are far from streetwise.  If one decides to cross the road the whole herd will blindly follow it into the on coming traffic.  Sheep are at their safest when they are attended by a shepherd.

The words Jehovah Rohi mean God is our Shepherd.  The words of Psalm 23 are not only meant to be sung at funerals but should affect our lives daily.  The title shepherd carries with it the whole idea of tenderness and care.  Jesus is called the Good Shepherd[33].  The prophet Ezekiel uses the illustration of the shepherd to describe God’s care for His people[34].

Take some time to read John 10:1-15.

Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep to give insight into the heart of God and His care for lost people[35].  This story has been called the mathematics of grace, because the shepherd leaves behind the 99 who would be at risk to find just one lost sheep, such is God’s heart for the lost and His care for you.  The shepherd guides his sheep and ensures that they have no needs.  The shepherd finds them pasture and water. Notice how personal the words are in Psalm 23.  They tell of God’s actions towards us.  Even in our darkest experiences He is with us.  Even as our enemies and those who would harm us surround us, He is with us.  It is evident that we have security for the here and now and also for eternity.  John the disciple of Jesus describes it like this, ‘for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd and He will lead them to springs of living water’.[36]

As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ you have great security[37].

The Good Shepherd has come that we might have life in all its fullness[38].  In the original Greek there are two words used for the word ‘life’.  There is bios from which we get words like biology and refers to physical life. Then there is the word zoë which   means life that has quality and is what God has designed us for.

Jesus has come that we might have quality of life with meaning and purpose! 

Dig Deeper: Ezekiel 34:1-31, John 10:1-30 + 1 Peter 5:1-4

Think Through:  Read Isaiah 53:6, what sheep like characteristics do you

                             display?

                              What shepherd like characteristics of God encourage you?

                               In John 10:10 we read that Jesus came to give you life.  Do

                               you think that Christians forget that true life is not only life

                               after death but real life now before death?

                                How will the shepherd like characteristics of God effect your

                                caring for others?                      

Summing Up:

All in One!

On the telesales channel many offers are made to the unsuspecting public.  The one size fits all T-shirt is quite fascinating.  Imagine the same garment fitting Mr Average and a giant sumo wrestler!  It makes no sense at all unless Mr Average is looking for a tent. Then there is the famous multi-tool.  Do you need a wire cutter, packing knife, screw driver, glass cutter, knife sharpener, spirit-level and ruler? Then you need the ‘All in One Tool.’  What an amazing and attractive offer one you cannot turn down.  No need for a big toolbox just carry it around in your pocket.  The problem is, it’s limited and it can’t hammer in nails or drill holes.   

It’s handy but limited!

 All the names of God are covered by one wonderful name.  JESUS = GOD ALL IN ONE!  Jesus fully reveals God to us[39].  When you put your trust in Jesus He makes God known to you.

Elohim – the great creator God of Genesis chapter 1 = Jesus Christ[40]

El Shaddai – the powerful one = Jesus the one with all authority[41]

Adonai – the God who rules = Jesus who rules [42]

Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides = Jesus who meets all our needs[43]

Jehovah Shalom – God our Peace = Jesus the prince of Peace[44]

Jehovah Rohi – God my Shepherd = Jesus the Good Shepherd[45]

Every promise that God makes is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, all God’s promises are ‘yes’ in Jesus![46]  All that God is He is in His names, and all that He is in His names He is in Jesus Christ. 

Paul’s words ring loud and true, ‘if God is for us who can be against us![47]’.

‘The name Jesus is more than a label’

Dig Deeper:  Philippians 4:10-20, Psalm 23, Psalm 2 + Colossians 2:6-15

Think Through:  Meditate and think over how Jesus helps you understand who

                             who God is.

                              Use the names of god and Jesus to expand your capacity for

                              Praise.

                               Romans 8:29 says we are to grow more like Jesus.  Does

                               life reflect something of Jesus?