The Names of God-Elohim

THE NAMES OF GOD: ELOHIM Spring Valley Mennonite; October 3, 2021; Genesis 1:1, selected passages How important is it to know God? Such a question to a congregation such as ours might seem almost pointless, but if someone asked you to describe the God in whom we believe, how would you begin? What is our God like? Hopefully, each of us is involved in a life-long discovery process about God and our relationship with Him. The study of God, which is the meaning of "Theology"-Theo=God; ology= the study of--the study of God is the most important thing to which we could devote ourselves. One writer has expressed, "I suppose if sin had not entered the world, the acquisition of the knowledge of God would have been the high occupation of man forever and ever." I have often thought that God is so immensely complex that in heaven, for all eternity, we will find out something new about God each day! Paul expressed to Timothy that all scripture is profitable, and I feel that studying the names God has given Himself is a wonderfully profitable way to learn about Him. The benefit will be that knowing more about Him will enable us to appreciate and grow in our relationship with Him. I want to emphasize that because all scripture is God-breathed, the author of the Bible being God Himself, these names of God originate from Him. It is as if God is coming up to us, shaking our hand, and saying, "Hello; My name is..." The first name God self-reveals is: I. ELOHIM In the first verse of Genesis 1, we find this name of God: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." This name, Elohim, is repeated thirty-two times in this first chapter of Genesis. While not the most frequent name for God found in the Bible (which would be YHWH) Elohim is used 2,570 times. The meaning of the word in Hebrew has several possibilities: one of these looks at the shorter root word "El" which means mighty, strong, or prominent. The word "El" appearing alone is translated "God" 250 times, and usually in situations where the great power of God is on display. It is appropriate that we find the name Elohim in the act of creation, where the heaven and the earth and all they contain came into being through His limitless, absolute and supreme power. The name "Elohim" primarily speaks of God's omnipotence. Jesus told His disciples, "With God all things are possible." Gabriel told Mary, "...nothing will be impossible with God." Do you know that there is an exception to God's ability? God cannot do anything contrary to His character. Blogger Kathy Howard gives a list of seven things God cannot do: He cannot sin. He cannot lie. God cannot be wrong or make a mistake. He cannot change, for perfection cannot become more perfect. He cannot break a promise. He cannot get tired, and He cannot cease existing. (KathyHoward.org) Elohim is a plural form which allows for the doctrine of the trinity, as does Genesis 1:26, "And Elohim said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." However, we observe the plural subject is used with a singular verb, which Hebrew grammar experts tell us that the primary meaning of the plural Elohim is called "the plural of majesty" used to emphasize the supreme majesty and greatness of God. Regarding Elohim and the Trinity, Ryrie observes, "The plural may allow for the subsequent revelation of the Trinity, but that is quite different from saying that the plural indicates Triunity." The clear teaching regarding the Trinity is found in the New Testament, although the Old Testament has many places where it is supported. As we further explore the use of Elohim, there appear three compound uses of the shorter "El" which refer to specific characteristics of God. II. EL-SHADDAI The first is El-Shaddai, meaning "Almighty God, with an emphasis on His grace and mercy." The word "Shaddai" is most commonly regarded as being connected to a word for mountain, picturing God as standing on a mountain, compassionately regarding all things below Him. When God appeared to the Patriarchs confirming and comforting them in relation to the Abrahamic Covenant, the name El-Shaddai was used. Genesis 17:1: "Now when Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am El-Shaddai; walk before me and be blameless and I will establish my covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly.'" To Jacob in Gen. 28:3, God said, "And may God Almighty (El Shaddai) bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples." God confirmed this promise to Jacob again, using El Shaddai when He changed Jacob's name to Israel, promising a "company of nations and kings" that would come from him. El Shaddai speaks of God's grace and mercy and His faithfulness in keeping His promises. God is a promise-maker and promise-keeper. He makes covenants, binding agreements that He delights to faithfully keep. What has God promised we believers through the New Covenant which was established through the sacrifice of Jesus? Out of His grace and mercy, El-Shaddai promises that belief in Jesus will give us salvation and the forgiveness of sin. All who believe will have eternal life. We are assured of resurrection and a glorious future. We are promised peace through the confusion, chaos and turmoil of life in this fallen world. El-Shaddai helps us understand the mercy and grace of Elohim. III. EL-ELYON Another compound construction is El-Elyon, or God Most High. This speaks of the omniscience of God. He is the all-knowing God. There is absolutely nothing hidden from Him. Today in the realm of data storage, there exists a place known as "the cloud." The cloud is the name given to the capacity contained in vast computer storage facilities in which computerized records such as files, documents, and pictures can be digitally stored. Picture a vast multistoried warehouse many miles square filled with file cabinets. Most businesses are now converting paper records to digital forms to store in "the Cloud." Limited access to this data storage in the cloud is free through many cell phone companies, so, for instance, all the pictures we take can be backed up. Of course, when the free memory is exhausted, for a monthly cost more capacity in the cloud can be purchased. El-Elyon, God Most High, has limitless capacity for information. He is omniscient. He knows everything that can be known. Have you grasped the idea that every single bit of information about every subject that exists is known by God? Every thought of the billions of people who now live or have ever existed is known by God. He not only knows the name of every star in every galaxy of the universe, but He knows what every atom in those stars is doing! And, El-Elyon is in sovereign control of every atom, and all those atom's particles! What does this mean to you and me? Nothing that happens to me escapes God's notice. His mind is constantly turned to each of His children, as Psalm 139:17-18 tells us: "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You." The idea contained in El-Elyon is that God is high above everything, looking down, observing and controlling all that goes on, and remembering all that has ever happened. Therefore, God knows and has everything under control concerning us. And His thoughts toward us are of love, compassion and mercy. IV. EL-OLAM A third compound use relating to Elohim is the compound El-Olam, which speaks of God as the Everlasting, Eternal One Who is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is unchanging. As humans we live in a world which is constantly changing. The weather changed this week; the seasons change. Our bodies change as we grow older. When you drive toward Wichita or Hutchinson or Salina, you see new construction. Businesses change; Even what our culture regards as right and wrong change. Nations and governments change. Prices change. But God never changes for He is perfect and self-existent, needing nothing. The theological term for this is Immutability. As we observed earlier, perfection cannot get "More perfect." Numbers 23:19 states, "God is not a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Isaiah 40:28: "Do you know? Have you not heard? El-Olam, the everlasting God, the YHWH, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power." Malachi 3:6: "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." Even though Israel failed to follow God so often, God keeps His promises to Israel-and to us, through our failures. Our unchanging God, limitless in power and might, gives strength and power to live righteously; He enables us to respond to change without panic, to "keep on keeping on" no matter what happens. I love Psalm 27 which assures us that because the Lord is our light and salvation, we need not fear. "Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; through war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident." Psalm 46 tells us that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, and though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride." El-Olam, the name of God which tells us that He is unchanging, gives us power and might to maintain our balance in a constantly changing world and as life changes around us. V. EL-ROI The fourth compound name within the meaning of Elohim is El-Roi, our God who sees all. This speaks of the presence of God everywhere, His Omnipresence. Psalm 139 eloquently informs us that God is with us no matter where the circumstances of life take us. We are safe within His care wherever we are. This name of God appears only a single time, and it emphasizes the tender and loving care of Elohim: the name comes from the lips of Hagar, the Egyptian handmaiden of Abraham and Sarah. Hagar had been given by Sarah as a wife to Abraham after Sarah had not been able to have children. This was a common practice in that culture. After Hagar conceived, we don't know if Hagar flaunted her ability to have a child before Sarah, but their relationship deteriorated. Sarah treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar ran away. In the wilderness, friendless and homeless and pregnant, Hagar was visited by God and told to return to Sarah. Hagar was given the promise that her son to be born was to be called Ishmael, meaning "God hears." Genesis 16:13-14: Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees" (El- Roi). The spring where this happened was named "a well of the Living One who sees me." Hagar was familiar to the gods of Egypt, but they were idols who were blind, speechless, powerless, and uncaring. The One True God saw her plight and came to her rescue. We note that God did not remove Hagar from a stressful relationship with Sarah but gave her the promise that the struggle would have a favorable outcome. What does the name El-Roi add to our understanding of God? God is not blind to our troublesome situations in life. He is the God Who sees and gives us strength and wisdom to cope. The name "Elohim" tells us that God is all powerful; El-Shaddai speaks of God's grace and mercy that has led us to salvation. El-Elyon stresses that God knows everything that can be known; He knows every detail of our lives. El-Olam tells of how God never changes; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore, every promise He has ever made, He will keep. We are safe within His promises of salvation. El-Roi is the God who compassionately sees our struggles, gives strength through those struggles and promises all things work for the good of those who trust Him. Elohim-This is the One True God whom we worship! 2