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Date of message: 26 July 2002
Subject: The Names of God - 1
Shalom, Boker-tov ( good morning ),
It has been said that one can know a person well by studying his name.
Names are more than labels; they are normally given to embody the aspirations
of the person giving the name to the recipient. In the Old Testament times,
a name not only expressed identification but also identity. Significant
meaning is often attached to a name. Names in the Old Testament also have
an explanatory function - Joseph named his first-born son "Manasseh"
because he wanted to forget what his brothers did to him by selling him
off as a slave ( Manasseh in Hebrew means "making forgetful"
- Genesis 41: 51 ).
ELOHIM
The first name that the Bible gives to address God is the Hebrew name
"Elohim" which means "Creator God" and it gives us
the picture of power. Right at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:
1, we read "In the beginning, God ( Elohim ) created the heavens
and the earth." In scientific terms, that is one of the most powerful
statements because all five key pillars of science are embodied there:
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Time - in the beginning
Force - God
Motion - created
Space - the heavens
Matter - and the earth.
Evolutionists argue that we came from apes but I beg to differ. How can
we have descended from apes when the Bible so clearly states that God
created and is still in the business of creation. Throughout Genesis Chapter
1 we read that God spoke and there was and I believe this will carry on
for eternity because His word goes on for eternity.
The Jewish rabbis could not explain this but the Hebrew name ELOHIM is
the plural for "Eloah". They grappled with the thought that
there are more than one Person in God. In the English Bible, we read in
Genesis 1:26 that God used the term "let US make man in OUR image..."
signifying that our Creator God did discuss man's creation and chose to
do so in His image and that is another reason why the evolutionists have
failed. I chose to believe in what the Bible says that I am created in
God's image and not in the image of apes.
The actions of Elohim also bespeak His power, enabling barren women such
as Sarah ( Gen 18: 10, 14 ) and Rebecca ( Gen 25: 21 ) to conceive and
bring forth champions, bringing an oppressed people out of Egypt ( Exodus
20: 2 ) and with power raising Jesus Christ from the dead ( Rom 1: 1-
4 ). Believers, the apostle Peter wrote, are "shielded by God's power"
( 1 Peter 1: 5 ). In the name of Elohim is the fullness of divine power.
EL ELYON
The name El Elyon is one of the most majestic names we find in all scriptures.
It means "The God Most High," or "The Mighty One Most High",
a name which carries great authority on our behalf. The name is derived
from the root "to go up, climb, ascend" that says there is no
existing thing - no god - that is higher than the Most High God. Abraham
mentioned El Elyon when he addressed Melchizedek ( Gen 14: 18 - 22 ).
He is the possessor of heaven, earth and everything in them. His name
is so high, so exalted, so marvellous, that there is no other name to
compare with this name.
This name is so majestic that El Elyon was the name above all names that
Satan coveted most for himself. The prophet Isaiah says that Satan spoke
in his heart:
"...I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars
of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses o the
north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself
like the Most High ( El Elyon )" Isaiah 14: 13 -14.
And in response, God says to him, "Satan, you will be thrown into
hell, you will be gazed upon, you will be talked about, you will be cast
out of your grave like a carcass, and you will be alone." ( Isaiah
14: 15 -20 )
The Most High had the last Word for Satan then, and He still does now!
Any time Satan exalts himself above the knowledge of God in your life,
bring El Elyon on to the scene. The Mighty Most High God will always have
the last Word for anyone who chooses to challenge His authority. An example
of this can be found in Numbers 24: 16 when the prophet Balaam was paid
to defy El Elyon and curse the children of Israel. He fell into a trance
- his eyes were open - but his faculties were impaired and the Most High
chose to make the donkey on which he was riding to speak to him.
EL SHADDAI
To Abraham, God appears as God Almighty, El Shaddai ( Gen 17: 1 ). "God
Almighty" does not mean "the God of might and power" but
comes from the word "field" as the fields produce abundance
and is also translated as "breast", or "the many breasted
One" which signifies nourishment and productiveness. So whenever
we see the name El Shaddai, God is saying, "I am more than enough
to meet your need in each situation".
Throughout Abraham's life, God promised to bless and multiply him. As
El Shaddai, God came to Abraham in the context of total impossibility.
When he was 99 years old and his wife Sarah was 89 years old ( as if Abraham's
age was not "impossible" enough ), El Shaddai promised him seed
( descendents ) as the dust of the earth. God shows His all sufficiency
by turning nature around and providing a miracle that is contrary to natural
events. He caused Abraham and Sarah to have a son, Isaac in their old
age.
Isaac grew up and knew God as El Shaddai himself and we find evidence
when he spoke to Jacob, his son, when he left home to look for a wife
for himself. In Gen 28: 1- 3, we read (paraphrased) "Jacob, may El
Shaddai, the God Who is all sufficient, bless you and multiply you! He
will work contrary to nature to overcome any difficult circumstances."
When Jacob went to work for his father-in-law Laban, God prospered Jacob
with so many animals that even Laban could not stop envying his own son-in-law.
What was initially thought as quite an impossible task soon turned out
to be an overflowing blessing for Jacob. Every single baby animal born
that year was spotted, speckled and striped so that they became Jacob's
property since that was the agreement made between Jacob and Laban. Impossible,
you might say? Not with El Shaddai for He is more than able to meet our
needs in every situation.
Moses also staked his claim on El Shaddai saying, "My God is more
than enough to feed two million people. My God is all sufficient. And
even though we are in the wilderness, these two million people will have
water. No matter how tough my circumstances may appear, I am counting
on El Shaddai to bring us through!" And He did. That is why Hebrews
Chapter 11 say that Moses forsook the pleasures of living in the Pharaoh's
house and sojourned in the wilderness with the children of Israel. He
stretched his faith out there and said, "I do not need the comforts
of Pharaoh's house - my Almighty God has all that I need!"
Throughout his walk with the Lord, Moses kept seeing the miraculous hand
of God overcome nature itself. For 40 years, those people had no grocery
bill, no water bill, no heating bill or no air-conditioning bills, and
they never had to buy new shoes nor garments. That is just tremendous.
If God could do it back then for two million people, do you not think
He will take care of you now? Stake your claim under the shadow of EL
SHADDAI for He is more than enough, more than you will ever need! Stake
your claim with your mouth and declare,
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in Him will I trust." Psalms 91: 2.
The Lord blesses you and keeps you,
The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and all
your loved ones,
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you His shalom peace.
Numbers 6: 24 - 26
Have a blessed week ahead, Shavrou-tov
Shalom,
Andrew L W Lee
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