The Names for God

I have found much encouragement in the names for God and in their rich meanings.  There are many names for God in the Bible, because God has so many wonderful characterisitics.  

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek. ELOHIM in Hebrew means the all powerful, all mighty, creator God. YAHWEH is the personal name for God. YAHWEH ELOHIM is your God, dear child of God! The all powerful God of the universe cares about you, and He is with you in the difficulties and challenges be it care-giving for a loved one, a difficult marriage, a financial sitatution, or a host of other trials!

He is also YAHWEH-jireh, which means the Lord will provide. He will provide for you, dear child of God, in all the uncertainties and stresses of life. You do not know the future, but He already has the future under His sovereign control. I remember as a caregiver for my fist husband, Wayne, and in other diffiuclt life situations often succumbing to fear and worry. It was difficult to see my first husband’s health deteriorating before my eyes. As I look back, however, I know he was with me each step of the way.  It is easy to sucumb to fear in present difficulties as well. Yet the Lord is with me now as well.

I read somewhere that worrying is trying to carry tomorrow’s load with today’s strength. It is trying to carry two days at once. Worrying will not empty tomorrow of it’s heartaches and challenges. Instead it empties today of it’s strength. The truth of the matter is that we have no strength in ourselves at all, but we have unlimited strength in God.  He is in control. He will provide strength as we need it. Trust in YAHWEH-yireh which means the Lord will provide. He is also your YAHWEH-nissi which means the Lord is my banner or miracle. Trust in Him to provide, dear child of God.

Dear child of God, the Lord is also YAHWEH-sabaoth which means the Lord of Hosts or the Lord Almighty or the Sovereign Lord. He is Lord over everything. We can not box God in and tell Him what to do. If we submit to Him, however, He who is all powerful and Lord over everything will go before us. He will pave the way for you on every difficult path of life.  This is easy to say, but also so easy to forget in the stresses and challenges of life.  I know it is for me.

When you recognize that you can’t do life on your own, He-the Lord Almighty-is with you, dear child of God. Trust that He is in control. Rest it with the Lord God, for He also alone is YAHWEH-shalom which means the Lord of peace.