JEHOVAH

Isn’t it amazing that there is no one single name that can completely describe the greatness of Who God is?  Yet God, Who is so magnificent, desires that we know Him intimately and in the fullness of Who He is. The more extensive our understanding of God’s greatness, the more we become in awe of Him.

One of God’s names is Jehovah. This name appears in the bible more than any other. The name Jehovah comes from the name Yahweh and has been considered by the Jewish people to be too holy to speak or to write. When scribes would translate the Old Testament manuscripts, they would remove the vowels and only write YHWH. This was a name that filled the Jewish people with awe because they realized the worthiness and holiness of the name. It saddens my heart when I see how today God’s name has been reduced to a slang phrase that is carelessly spoken and used almost in a comedic way.(OMG)

There are several dimensions to the name Jehovah. Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word that means “to be” or to become. He is the self-existent Creator Who always has been and always will be. He Himself was not created, He always was and is.  When Moses was going to speak to the Israelites in behalf of God, he asked God Who should I say that You are? Exodus 3:14-15

14 God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is My eternal name, My name to remember for all generations.”  In essence God was and still is saying, “I am that I am. I am the self-sufficient One. I am everything you will ever need. I am with you. I am eternal. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. This name, Jehovah, declares the absolute existence of God and reveals Him as the dependable, faithful God Who desires the full trust of His people.

God is saying those same words to us today.  “I am all that you need. Won’t you TRUST ME?”

KNOW GOD'S NAME

Do you want to know God intimately and have  a personal, loving, close relationship with Him? As in any relationship, part of the process of becoming close to someone is learning who they are - their personality and character. This principle is the same in our relationship with God. One way to become more closely acquainted with God is by knowing His names. The names of God are a manifestation of His character. His names are synonymous with Who He is.

The Word of God encourages us to love the His name. Psalms 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy.”

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower ( a place of safety); The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil}

Psalms 113:1 declares, God’s name is blessed and encourages us to praise His name. “Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.  Praise the name of the Lord!  2 Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever.”

Isaiah tells us our soul longs for God’s name and to trust in the name of the Lord. Isaiah 26:8, Isaiah 50:10

Isaiah 63:12 states, “ Who caused His glorious arm and infinite power to go at the right hand of Moses, Dividing the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name.”

God’s name is above all. Nehemiah 9:5

In Malachi 1:11 God says His name will be great among the nations.

God’s name is so holy that reverence of it is one of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn (dispute) the character of God].”

These few verses tell us God’s name is:

1. A strong tower
2. Blessed
3. To be praised and trusted
4. Everlasting
5. Great among the nations
6. Holy
7. Above all

Won’t you join me in discovering Who God Is?

ELOHIM

Today we’re going to proceed with another name of God, Elohim.  This is the first name of God in the bible. The first part of the name, El, describes God’s greatness, glory, power, might and sovereignty. Elohim brings us a new dimension to the power of God. He becomes the God Who creates. Total power and complete creativity make up the name Elohim.   Genesis 1:1-3 states, “in the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and created) the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.”

What a picture this scripture paints for us! God took nothing and created everything by speaking a word. I cannot fathom the power that came forth from God. Not only are we in awe of the greatness of His power, but His creativity is really beyond our comprehension. Every living creature and every plant has been uniquely created. Each one is distinct in appearance, function, and purpose. All are intricately entwined together in perfect balance.

It’s impossible to look at nature and not see the beauty of God’s creation.Try closing your eyes for a moment and think of the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Maybe it’s a sunrise or a sunset, a beautiful ocean, a flower or a mountain. Whatever you have thought of, we, as man, can only attempt to duplicate the beauty of this scene, but God actually created it from nothing.  I’ve asked myself,  “How can this be?” The only answer is because God is our mighty, all powerful Creator.  Hebrews 11:3 tells us, “By faith—by believing God—we know that the world and the stars—in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen.”

Another distinction about the name Elohim is that it is plural. Elohim describes the divine Trinity of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three were involved in the creation process. I read this analogy once: God is the Architect, Jesus is the Builder, and Holy Spirit is He Who breathes the life of God into the structure.  Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 1:2-3, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish”. The Living bible says “where there is ignorance of God...” Learning God’s name and His character will bring us to a place of life and intimacy with God.

I pray that we will have revelation and be in awe of Elohim, the mighty Creator.

Revelation 4:11  “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.”