Bible Basics: The Names of God
As we learn and investigate Bible Basics, our starting point is God. Discerning who God is and understanding God’s nature is a life-long journey. We began last week by looking at who God is and what He has done. This week we continue by considering the names of God. God has revealed much about Himself to us in the names He uses. In today’s culture, names are often given with little thought or discernment. But in other cultures, and in ancient times, names revealed much. There are many names that God has used to describe Himself. The oldest name used by God is found in the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1 it says “God created the Heavens and the Earth.” The Hebrew word used in this verse is Elohim. It is a word that means Mighty God. This word points to the supremacy and greatness of God. By using this name, God is claiming that there is no one and nothing that is as great as He is. In a world that had been corrupted with polytheistic thinking (the belief in many or multiple gods) God, as Elohim, is staking His claim to being greater and more powerful that all of the false gods.
The most intimate and personal name for God is Yahweh. Yahweh is the name that tells us that God has always been. Yahweh means “I am.” When God uses the name Yahweh, He is saying "I exist, I have always existed, and I will always exist." Yahweh is the timeless God who has no beginning and will always stand outside of the constraints of time. When Moses was tasked to lead the people of Israel out of slavery, he asked God: “Who will I tell the people has sent me? What is your name?” In response to Moses’ question, God said, “Tell them Yahweh has sent you.”
In the ancient cradle of civilization, the word for God was El. If you are thinking that El sounds similar to Elohim, you are correct. With the name Elohim, God was stating, "I am the greatest of all the gods you have heard about." As a matter of fact, God makes the exclusive claim that He is the only true God (El) and all other supposed gods are pretenders. God says that the false gods of the nations are false imitations of Him. Using the basic name El, God often added words that described what kind of God He was. For example, God often uses the name El Shaddai. El Shaddai means God Almighty. This name of God is introduced to us in Genesis 17. In that chapter, God was speaking to Abraham. God had promised Abraham that He would make him into a mighty nation. Up to that point, Abraham was childless and very old. For all intents and purposes, it looked like old Abraham would go to his grave without having any children. It is here that God challenges Abraham to trust Him. God said, “I am El Shaddai.” In other words, “I am the Almighty God who can do anything! Trust me. Believe in me.” El Shaddai was a name that called for trust in God. God also used the name El Elyon. This name means the Most-High God, the God who is most powerful. This name is used in Genesis 14. Genesis 14:18 says: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.'”
Another great name for God was the combination of Yahweh and Shalom. It means the God of peace. The name, Yahweh Shalom, is found in Judges 6:24. In Judges 6, we are told about God calling a man named Gideon to lead the people of Israel. After encountering the great power of God, Gideon built an altar to Yahweh Shalom — the God of peace. Gideon gave God this name because God would bring salvation and peace to His people.
We could go on and on looking at the many names that God uses and is given in Scripture. In understanding these names, we learn much about God. The names of God inspire us and strengthen our faith. It is a great blessing and honor to know and use the names of God. God wants us to know who He is and how much He loves us. Perhaps the greatest name and most overlooked name for God is Jesus. When God came to earth as the God-Man, He chose the name Jesus. The anglicized name Jesus is taken from the Hebrew name, Joshua. Joshua means God saves. What a great thought. Elohim, the Almighty God of all, came to earth to save mankind. He humbled Himself and took the name Jesus. In Jesus, God has come near and has offered us redemption. What great news! Keep looking up!