Elohim
The creator God who is all powerful and supreme.
NAMES OF GOD
7/7/2024
If you have been around my Bible studies for a while you know I love to delve into the Hebrew names for God. God uses many different names in the Old Testament for Himself. In our English language Bibles these names are usually translated Lord or God. But in Hebrew we get a much more varied selection of the many different names and their meanings. We might miss the richness of these words if we don’t go back to the original language. Each name gives us insights into God’s character and how He relates to His people. I think they are so important because they help us to understand who He is and learn more about Him. We are going to take the next several weeks of summer to look at one name each week. I think taking this time will help each one of us to deepen our walk with the Lord and increase our understanding of Him.
You may not have been around for the CB radio craze in the 1970’s. CB stands for Citizen’s Band. They are short range radios that allow for two way talk. They have largely been eclipsed by texting, but during the 1970’s CB radios were a trend that went through our nation like wildfire. People bought the hand held radios and began chatting with anyone within their range. I never partook of this trend but I had friends that did. One of the first things they had to do was decide what their handle would be. Their handle was their name, how they would be known. And that word got me thinking….
God’s names are His handles. They are concepts that we can hold on to just like a handle. These names help us to embrace Him. The handles describe different aspects of His character and position. They speak of His many different jobs. God needs handles so we can better understand who He is.
So today I want to briefly look at the name that is presented to us in Genesis 1, Elohim. The word Elohim is used over 2500 times in the Scripture. This name denotes the creator God who is all powerful and supreme. This is one of the oldest names for God and denotes His sovereignty and authority. When the intelligence, creativity and power of Elohim are on display in creation the proper response to Elohim is a reverential fear and thankfulness.
The concept of the Trinity, three in one, is hinted as in the word Elohim because it is plural, yet its modifiers are singular. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… and God created man in his own image, male and female He created them." Genesis 1:26-27
God as Elohim is seen throughout the Bible. In the book of Job, Job demanded answers from God about his personal pain and suffering. Job wanted God to be accountable to him. God’s answer to Job begins in Job 38-42:6 is Elohim. If you have time this week read this passage where God (Elohim) directs Job to consider creation, to behold God in Creation. How do you respond when you see the beauty of the world around you? Are you accountable to God or is He accountable to you?
The concept of the Trinity, three in one, is hinted as in the word Elohim because it is plural, yet its modifiers are singular. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… and God created man in his own image, male and female He created them." Genesis 1:26-27
God as Elohim is seen throughout the Bible. In the book of Job, Job demanded answers from God about his personal pain and suffering. Job wanted God to be accountable to him. God’s answer to Job begins in Job 38-42:6 is Elohim. If you have time this week read this passage where God (Elohim) directs Job to consider creation, to behold God in Creation. How do you respond when you see the beauty of the world around you? Are you accountable to God or is He accountable to you?