Elohim Part 2

Let’s continue with God’s name, Elohim. We know that God created the universe and all that is in it. The most intricate, beautiful, and loved creation of God is you.  We were not only created by God, we were created in the image of God ( Genesis 1:26-27). We have the characteristics of God such as: intellect, reasoning, ability to hear, see, and speak and a personality. God created man to have dominion (rule) over the earth, to be His representative on earth, and to bring God glory ( acknowledge His greatness, give Him honor, and worship Him ).  Psalm 19:1 states “the heavens declare the glory of God.” If the rest of creation is glorifying (honoring, acknowledging, and worshiping) God, how much more should we, who are made in His image, glorify Him!

We are not here by accident. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own].”  The psalmist, David, spoke of this in Psalm 139: 13,15. “For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me ( together) in my mother’s womb, 15 my frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret, and intricately and skillfully formed.”  

We are created by God.

God, Elohim, the Creator of the universe not only created you, He desires to have a relationship with you. Scripture after scripture in God’s Word that expresses His love for us.

Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.”

Isaiah 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, and He waits on high to have compassion on you. The New Living Translation says “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him  so he can show you his love and compassion.”

Stop and think about that statement for a moment.

God, the Creator of the universe, desires and longs to have a relationship with you. He loves us before we are born and He loves us when we are at our worst.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much,5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”

The fact that the Creator of the universe loves and desires a relationship with each of us is overwhelming to me.  I am in awe of the magnitude of God’s love for us.

I encourage you to pray Ephesians 3:19 over yourself.  By that I mean substitute your name (or “I”) in the blanks “ [that ____ may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that ____ may be filled up [throughout my being] to all the fullness of God [so that ____ may have the richest experience of God’s presence in my life, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].”

 

Names of God

Have you ever asked yourself or has someone asked you Who is God? This is not an easy question to answer. When I think of God I think of a multi faceted diamond or a prism that shows a multitude of colors when you look through it. God, like the diamond or prism, is also not one dimensional. To describe Him is almost beyond human words or vocabulary. In this blog I am attempting  to describe the magnificence of God.

In the original old testament, which was written in Hebrew and the original new testament, which was written in Greek, God had many different names besides God. Because each name describes a facet of God or a part of His Character.Let's begin with the different names of God.

The names of God are holy. Jesus tells us this in the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 9. When His disciples asked Him how to pray. Jesus answered by saying, “Pray this way: Our Father Who is in heaven, Hallowed (holy) be Your name”. Jesus was telling us we need to honor and revere God’s names. Why? Because His name is a reflection of Who He is. In Hebrew the word "name" means a mark of individuality with implications of honor, authority, and character. A person’s name was a link to his or her character. For example Jesus renamed Simon to Peter which was a prophetic word for his future. God renamed Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. Throughout scripture God used names as revelation to the character of men and women. If human names were that important to God, how much more important is His name. Psalm 8:1 declares  ”Lord, our Lord,  how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!”

To me when God reveals Himself to us through His name, it’s as if He’s saying: I want to reveal something about Myself to you so you can know Me better, more intimately. How exciting is that?

The first name I am going discuss is, El Elyon.

In Hebrew the word "el" comes from a root word that means might, strength, and power.

"Elyon" comes from the root word "alah" which means to go up, ascend, climb, and exalt. El Elyon means the God Most High or The Mighty One Most High. Let’s think about this for a moment. It is exciting to think about God being so mighty and powerful that He is above all other gods!! He has power and authority above ALL things. There is nothing higher than God. Isaiah 46:9 says: ” Remember the former things, those of long ago;    I am God, and there is no other;  I am God, and there is none like Me.”

None like God. I can’t stop thinking about that verse and what it means. When we are struggling with circumstances that seem impossible we must remember El Elyon is above that circumstance. If you are facing what seems impossible, remember El Elyon is above all.