The Names of God: Elohim—God, Mighty Creator

In the beginning God [elohim] created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

From https://babethebeka.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/genesis1_11.jpg

Last week, we began to ponder the names of God and how learning His names would deepen our experience of Him and cause us to have a deepening love for God. The introduction to this series within the Believing God series can be found here: Knowing God Through His Names: Introduction

Elohim (hear elohim in Hebrew) is the first name for God in the Bible—it is found in the very first verse of Genesis chapter 1 (see above). Even here we discover the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)—elohim is a Hebrew masculine plural pronoun, el is the singular form. To see Genesis 1:1 in interlinear form (English with Hebrew below, please click here). Jesus, while on the cross used yet another form of this word: Eloi (read Mark 15:34).

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 KJV)

In John 1 we learn that Jesus was the One who spoke all things into existence—things seen as well as things unseen. Jesus has always existed and will always exist. How amazing is this?!

Photo Credit: C. Meissner

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach 

To do this, to create, truly shows God’s power, might, and authority. His is amazingly creative! Why do we not have more moments where we sit in awe of God’s miraculous creation?

The Name that is above all others is ultimately the safest place to land—He is our provider, protector, creator, and so much more!

Can you imagine, the One who created the world and everything in it, came to earth in the most humble of ways; lived an incredibly humble existence, walking the world He created? Mindboggling! Amazing! Jesus came. He came to this world—the very people He created did not accept Him. Instead, they reviled and rejected Him. Ultimately, He lost His life to give us meaningful eternal life by rising again and returning to the Father.

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach

If we have eyes to see; we can see God’s creative power in our lives today. He sustains our life; He sends blessings of many types as we journey through our lives. God continues to create even today.

Just think the power that is God and within God is still available today! How do we know this? We know this because God never changes (read Hebrews 13:8). This being true, should be immensely comforting as we live in a world that grows increasingly dark each day.

Stand strong! Stay true! The smallest light shines brightly even in deep darkness. Remember how much light a single candle gives a dark room.

The beauty in our world should cause us to pause and thank and praise God for the beauty in the natural world. If we have eyes to see, there is beauty to be found in haze that covers trees resplendent in green foliage. Likewise, we can see beauty on a bitterly cold, snowy winter day.

Photo Credit: C. Meissner

I am so glad I serve such an amazing, creative, powerful God! What about you?

Spend some time this week pondering Elohim—Creator God. What does it mean that God is Creator?

What part of creation do you most enjoy?

Please join with me in prayer:

God of Creation, when we pause to consider this world You fashioned, we find ourselves overwhelmed with Your almighty power. We simply stand in awe of You. It is hard for our finite minds to grasp how you created this world and everything in it out of nothing; clearly that is what makes You God of all creation. Help us to simply enjoy the beauty You have given us for our enjoyment; may we care for it in a way that pleases You. Turn our hearts and minds to ponder and worship You as Creator. Thank You Elohim for all that You are and for all that You do! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

While I was pondering this post, the following hymn started flowing through my mind: All Things Bright and Beautiful 

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

The following resources were utilized in preparing this post:

Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide by Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2004

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Elohim/elohim.html

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/El/el.html

Knowing God Through His Names: Introduction

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10 KJV)

Our God is a God who is beyond knowing in fullness, completeness. He is awesome in power and in might. Our God is a God who has many names—names that describe Him, His nature and his character. One website states there are 900 plus names of God (the names of God)! Many of those names are actually titles. With that in mind, it is no wonder that it literally takes a lifetime of relationship to get to know Him. While on earth we can only know Him in part; for those of us who have Jesus as Savior and Lord, we will have an eternity to get to know Him. Exciting? I say, yes!

Knowing God will help us to experience Him in new and revitalizing ways. We will also come to believe Him more and more. (Notice I said believe Him not believe in Him.) As we learn more about who God is, His nature and character, we will find that we fall more deeply in love with Him. Ideally, we should grow in our love for God each day, week, month, and year.

In Bible times, names were more significant than they are today. In fact, the nature and character of a person were thought to be revealed in their name. A person’s name really did impact their life and the trajectory of their life.

There is a vulnerability in being known by name, so, in a sense, God has made Himself vulnerable to the people He created. Therefore, we should use His name (all of them!) with care. Using God’s name without thinking is not any better than using it to swear. We should use God’s name with reverence. How are we at honoring God by how we use His name? How do we dishonor God by how we use His name?

God first reveals Himself in Genesis 1:1 and continues to progressively reveal more of Himself—His nature, His character throughout the Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—He reveals Himself to His people. This should cause us to seek after Him, to receive from Him all He has to offer us. God gets bigger as we seek Him. God cannot be put into a box—He is much bigger than any box; He moves when, where, and as He wishes.

What type of God are you reflecting as you journey through this life? We tend to reflect what we perceive.

The thoughts and ideas I have shared in this post come from Beth Moore’s Believing God study and Ann Spangler’s book Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide. I recommend both of these resources.

This post is part of my Believing God series. To read previous posts see: Believing God, Believing God: Unbelief, Believing God: Those Who Believed God, and Believing God: God is Who He Says He is.

Please join with me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to us. It is amazing to have the honor of being able to know You by name. Place within us a hunger and desire to pursue You, to get to know You more and more each day. May our love for You deepen as we grow in our relationship with You. Quicken to us a desire to use Your name reverently and do nothing to dishonor Your holy name. Open our eyes to how You reveal Yourself to us personally, as You woo us to Yourself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Believing God: God Is Who He Says He Is

From: https://wearegodsart.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/watermarked_cover-1.png

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? …He saith unto them, But whom do you say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:13, 15-16 KJV)

Our God is a big, awesome, amazing God—a God of many names—names that describe Who He is as well as what He does—revealing His nature and His character. He is beyond what our finite minds can grasp. Yet we can get to know Him by studying and meditating on His names. Experiencing God changes us—changes us for the better; we learn to trust Him more and more.

In biblical times names were thought to describe the person; therefore, names were very important. Think about how Abram became Abraham (Genesis 17:5); Saul became Paul. What about Isaac and Esau or Jacob (their stories may be read in Genesis)—their names greatly impacted the trajectory of their lives and families? What about Jabez—a man’s name that meant “pain”—his story is recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10? In heaven, each believer will be given a new name (Revelation 2:17).

Meanwhile, we have a crafty, dangerous foe, satan, who will do his best to destroy our belief and trust in the Lord. Therefore, we must be prepared for those attacks; combating lies with the truth, as well as putting on our spiritual armor (see Ephesians 6:10-18). Be prepared for times of fear, discouragement, and doubt—determine ahead of time to not dwell in that place. The battle is daily, that is why it is so important to pray on the armor of God each day. God is patient with us in the times that we get off track, therefore, do not give up! Confess to God what your heart and mind are saying; you will find God is gracious and quick to forgive.

river photo credit C. Meissner 

Knowing God is truly a life-long adventure. Those of us who are in Christ will spend eternity getting to know Him. I am so thankful that I serve a God that big, powerful, and mighty! What about you? As we come to know God, we will ever more deeply fall in love with Him. Remember, God is eminently trustworthy. Praise the Lord; He never changes (Malachi 3:6)!

Cross at front of sanctuary Trinity UMC personal photo

What do you most appreciate about God?

What is your response when someone asks you who God is?

This journey of knowing God by His names is part of my Believing God series (see Believing God, Believing God: Unbelief, Believing God: Those Who Believed God) for the first three posts.

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God that is beyond our understanding. Open our minds to see Your different qualities; may we praise You for all You are and for all You do. May we seek You continually, so that You can grow, shape, and mold us into the person You desire us to become. Guide us as we study and meditate on Your qualities, cause us to fall more in love with You each day. We confess, that You are the living God, the God who Created the world and everything in it.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Believing God: Those Who Believed God

And he [Abram] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

(Genesis 15:6 KJV)

After taking a short detour last week to celebrate Mother’s Day, this week we return to the theme of believing God. To review the previous posts in this series see Believing God and Believing God: Unbelief.

In taking a broad look at the history of the Jewish people, particularly right after they left Egypt, we can see times were they did believe God and times where they did not believe God. Consider the story of the spies who went and explored the Promised Land—a land full of milk and honey, a land specifically prepared by God for His people. It is here where we see only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb who believed God—they believed they could capture the Promised Land because God was on their side and would fight for them. They did this in the face of the majority’s disbelief. For the complete story see Numbers 13 and Numbers 14.

Disbelief kept the Jewish people wandering in the wilderness for forty years. How much wandering do we do because of our unbelief?

Believing God is key to a victorious life in Jesus Christ. To not believe God is to live with little of God’s power. When we have little of God’s power manifesting in our lives, we miss out on so much God longs to do through us and give to us.

The great missionary to India, William Carey, stated: “Expect great things; attempt great things.” He is not the only missionary who lived a life that characterized believing God.

David Livingstone was a missionary and explorer in Africa doing absolutely amazing things for the Lord and impacted a nation. His impact is still felt today.

Eric Liddell also believed God and impacted China sharing God’s Word and love with those around him. His life was cut short, yet during the years he lived, he gave his all for His Lord—leading many to the Savior.   

Although not a missionary, Oswald Chambers, who wrote the devotional classic, My Utmost for His Highest, made a great impact in England and during WWI in Egypt.

D. L. Moody, a simple man, with little education made a huge impact for the Lord. Moody brought many into relationship with the Lord. His work is still impacting the world today through the Moody Bible Institute. He simply gave himself fully to the Lord, and the Lord used him in amazing ways. 

These are but a few of many who said yes to God and believed Him. By believing they took leaps of faith and the world has not been the same. We are still benefiting from these examples of believing God.

These men lived lives fully sold out to God and God used them mightily—great examples of believing God and allowing Him to use the whole of you.

What is God calling you to believe Him for? 

Healing for you or a loved one?

Salvation of a friend or family member?

 

Revival? 

What about changing the direction our nation is going?

 

What is God is calling you to do?  Lead a Bible study…witness at work, to a neighbor?  Start a ministry? 

The list is endless.  Only you know.  What steps can you take this week to believe God? 

Remember, you can do everything through Christ!

Please join me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we confess that many times we struggle with believing You in the way we should. Thank You for the amazing witness of those who have gone before us who have believed You; therefore they were empowered to do amazing things that benefited others and pointed to Your glory, power, and might. Reveal to us how we should emulate those examples in our daily lives. We desire to live a life that allows You to do great things through us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Believing God: Unbelief

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. (Mark 9:24 KJV)

Last week we started considering what it means to believe God, not just believe in Him but believe Him. When we know the Word of God, we can see how He remains faithful and true to Himself and His Word—He cannot do differently. There are many examples throughout history—of those who believed God doing great and mighty things, simply because they believed God. To review the first post in this series, see here.

This week, we will be considering unbelief versus struggling to believe. Struggling is allowable and not necessarily a negative thing—struggles help us to build strength in our spiritual muscles. It is when struggles give way to unbelief that we stray into an area that is ultimately not good. Believing God gives us strength to do things that we normally could not do.

On the flip side, NOT believing God is who He says is and that He will do what He says He will do makes Him angry. (See Psalm 78:21-22) God will answer legitimate questions as He did with Abram in Genesis 15. We see that again in Jesus’ interaction with the father of the demon possessed boy in Mark 9:14-24. Therefore, we can know with confidence that He will be patient and understanding with our questions.

It is unbelief that gets us into a world of trouble. May we like the boy’s father cry out: “I believe, help my unbelief”! Unbelief limits our experience of God. Unbelief keeps God from working in the ways He would work otherwise. Recall how Jesus could do little in the way of miracles in His hometown due to unbelief. Unbelief stymies our spiritual growth and the whole of our lives. It impacts those around us too.

Think about the behavior of the Israelites after God brought them out of Egypt through many signs and wonders. They had truly experienced the might of God! Their disobedience towards God brought about His wrath. Many lost their lives. They also were kept wandering in the wilderness for forty years due to not believing God, and not believing those who did believe God. We can learn much from their stories.

How much metaphorical (or literal!) wandering have we done due to not believing God?

However, time and time again we see God do the “impossible”…at least it is impossible in our finite human minds. In Genesis 12 we read about God calling Abram, an idol worshipper, out of Ur of the Chaldees to a land that God would show him; additionally God told Abram that a great nation would come from him. Keep in mind that Abram was at that time 75 and childless. Despite that he obeyed and left the life he knew. Later he took a “detour” to Egypt due to a famine in the land God called him to.

Picking up the story again in Genesis 15 the LORD reconfirms the covenant He made with Abram. He answers Abram’s question about who will inherit his wealth with a promise that he’ll have a son from his own body. (By the way, this was not fulfilled for over ten years.) We also read that the people who will come from Abram will spend 400 years in a country that is not theirs and be oppressed. 

This covenant God made with Abram is all one sided—God is responsible for fulfilling it. God is the only one who walks between the divided animals. All Abram needed to do was believe God. 

Likewise, the covenant we have with God is solely based on Him and His work. All we have to do is believe. We are saved through the work of Jesus on the cross. It was on the cross that Jesus gained victory over sin, death, and the grave.

What do you believe about Jesus?

Where are you struggling to believe God?

How have you struggled with unbelief? How are you currently struggling with unbelief?

Please join with me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for your sure promises to us, particularly the promises we have in Jesus. Strengthen us as we struggle to believe You. We cry out, much like the boy’s father in Mark 9, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Thank You for not giving up on us when we struggle with unbelief, encourage us to move beyond that to believing You for Who You are and what You said You can and will do. It is only with Your help that we can move from unbelief to believe. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

To my readers: Be looking for additional posts in the future on the theme of believing God.

Believing God

And he [Abram] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

(Genesis 15:6 KJV)

Charles Spurgeon stated: “I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation; a faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor faith at best. It is little better than a dry-land faith, and is not good for much.” Clearly, Charles Spurgeon believed God.

A few years ago, in preparing to preach, I pondered what it means to believe God. Notice I did not say believe in God, nor am I writing in past tense—believing God is active and living (present active participle)—something that continues and does not stop. To believe God, is to believe Him in an active and on going way—present and future.

God expects our belief in Him to be active, not passive!

There is a difference, a huge difference; between believing in God and believing God…lets explore that difference.

What does it mean to believe God—to truly and completely believe what He says? What would we be able to accomplish if we truly believe God? In what areas of your life are you believing God?

Believing God is not for the faint of heart. It requires boldness! As the story of Abram indicates; we do not have to be perfect. God still is true to His Word to us—knowing that we can trust Him. 

Believing is stepping out in faith without knowing the final destination. Abram renamed Abraham did—an idol worshipper who became the father of all who have Jesus as Savior and Lord (the account of Abram’s call can be read in Genesis 12). 

To clarify, I am NOT talking about believing in God. Many people believe in God, yet they are not going to heaven when they die. In James 2:19, we read: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Simply believing in God does not say much, does it? Believing God is a deeper, bolder, life changing concept. It moves us out of comfort zones and keeping God in box and takes us to new places. Places we have never dreamed of—doing things we did not think were possible. According to Beth Moore in her study Believing God, there are five things we need to believe about God. Believing God is:

1.       Believing God is He is who He says He is.
2.       He can do what He says He can do.
3.       I am who God says I am.
4.       I can do all things through Christ.
5.       God’s Word is alive and active in me.

Acting in faith is key. God will reward that, even if we get things wrong. All we need to do is look at the story of Abraham. He did not always get things right—such as leaving his family behind when God first called him. Due to that, he was delayed in Haran until his father Terah died. Later on he lied twice about his wife, Sarai, saying that she was his sister. He lied to protect his life—a moment of not trusting God to bring about the promise of becoming a great nation.  However, in Genesis 15:6 we read, “And he [Abram] believed the LORD and he counted it to him for righteousness.” We see this again in the New Testament (in multiple places) as a testimony to Abraham’s faith. 

Like Abraham, we may falter from time to time in believing God. However, to falter does not mean that God is done with us. Be assured that God is still at work in each of His children’s lives bringing His plan to fruition. However, God does not always protect us from the consequences of our faltering. In Abraham’s case, we are still experiencing the consequences of his decision to take matters into his own hands (the birth of Ishmael and the current conflict in the Middle East).

In closing, consider the following questions:

How is God asking me to believe Him this week?

In what ways can I take some steps of faith in getting to where God is calling me?

Please join with me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many examples in Your Word of what it means to believe You—not just believe in You. Empower us through the Holy Spirit to believe that You are who You say You are and that You have a special plan for each of our lives. Thank You for creating each one of us on purpose and for the plan that You have for each one of us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

To my readers: Be looking for additional posts in the future on the theme of believing God.