The names of God help us to know and understand who He is to His people. When we understand the meaning of His names we will gain insight into who He is to us. “And those who know Your name will put their trust in you.” Psalm 9:10.
The personality of God is revealed to us through His names. As we acknowledge the power in His name it will enable us to understand His characters and His heart. The biblical names of God launch us into a personal intimate relationship with Him and help us to be more acquainted with our creator. “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:9.
1). Elohim – God our creator
In Genesis 1:1 the Bible says In the beginning God created Heaven and the earth. We know that God is the creator of everything in the universe, and He has fashioned us His people like Him. His creativity is incomparable, the beauty of what He has made can not be fathomed.
2). Abba – God is our Father
We are not fatherless and alone but have a father, who never fails us. Our father is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is our Abba who has adopted us as His own children through His son Jesus. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
3). Jehovah-Jireh – God our provider
God is our provider, and He will always provide for us in any situation, His plans for us are good and he will provide for all our needs. He proved Himself with Abraham and provided what he needed to for the sacrifice. As we work with Him, He will provide for us.
In Genesis 22:9-12; 13-14 “When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven…Don’t lay a hand on the boy! Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Jehovah-Jireh (which means the LORD will provide). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: On the mountain of the lord it will be provided.”
God provided the ram in place of Isaac and proved that He is Jehovah-Jireh. He again provided the ultimate sacrifice in our place, the Lamb of God, Jesus, who took away the sins of the whole world. What a wonderful provider we have. Hallelujah!
4). El Kanna —The Jealous God
“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14)
In other pagan religions, the people have to do a lot of services and offer many sacrifices to appease their gods, but our God is in pursuit of His children. He doesn’t want anything else to take His place in our life or in our hearts. We must do our best to avoid those things that hinder us from an intimate relationship with God.
“For, I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” (Exodus 20:5)
5). Elohim Chayim – Our Living God
“Today you will know that the living God is among you.” (Joshua 3:10)
Not a single religion can boast of having a god that is alive and active in the lives of its followers. As Christians, we can only have a personal relationship with the living God—Elohim Chayim.
“Then the angel spoke to the women, Don’t be afraid! He said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.” (Matthew 28:5-6)
6). Jehovah-Shalom-God is our Peace
“When Gideon saw he was the angel of the Lord, he said, ‘Alas, O Lord GOD! For now, I have seen the angel face to face. The Lord said to him, Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die. Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace.” (Judges 6:22-24)
There is a peace that only God can give you and the world cannot understand it. Even when you are surrounded by tests and trials, the peace of God that passes all understanding will give us great comfort.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
