God's Name
God does not have a name but names. He is the great "I Am" that is his state of being. He just be, the self existing one. No name can comprehend, classsify, qualify, identify all that He "is" . "I suppose if sin had not intered the world," says one writer, "the aquisition of the knowledge of God would have been the high occupation of men forever nd ever."
What is the chief end of man? It is to glorify God and to enjoy Him always. To do this we must have some knowledge about God. When you call my name you are calling this finite person whose end you know about and consist of all you know about me. Not much to go on there. When we try to give God a name we run the risk of limiting all that God is. We bring Him down to our level. Israel once aked to have a king like all the other nations. Well they got there wish and God was no longer their king. We want God to have (a) name like all the other gods or like you and me. One name just does not do it for him because it poses some limitations.
If the heavens cannot contain God, how can a name discribe Him. Moses wanted to know Gods name but how can God reveal Himself to finite man by any one name. The Od Testament contains a number of names and compound names for God.
- "in the beginning God -Elohim- All mighty God. God is spoken of as El who brought Israel up out of Egypt with the strength of a wild ox and a mighty arm. Colossians 1:16 tells us that by Him or in Him were all things created. Creation is the act of Elohim. Therefore, Christ is in the Elohim or Godhead. The spirit of Elohim moved or brooded over the face of the waters (Gen 1:3)
- Jehovah-Hebrew word havah, "to be," or "being" the self-existent one, the One who in Himself possessess essential life, permanent existance. "I am he: before me there was no Elohim formed, neither shall there be after me. I even I, am Jehovah; and beside me there is no savior." He is the God of righteousness, holiness, and love.
- El-Shadaie- God Almighty (Gen 12:2) The one who fils and makes fruitful, the one who chastens who he loves.
As we can see these names of God reveal cirtain aspects of his character in dealing with man and his need He will be to you what you want him to be at a given time. Abraham found a provider in God as the provider Jehovah-jirah (Gen 22) Abraham also saw God as Jehovah-rophe the god who heals. Moses neede Jehovah-nissi or God my banner.