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The Names Of God

Have you ever wondered about the names of God? What is in a name? In our modern society, we choose names for our children in various ways. Some people name their children after themselves or a favourite family member; others select the name of a famous person they admire or hope their child will emulate; others prefer a name because it sounds nice.

In Old Testament times, names were chosen differently. We see this when Samson’s father asked an angel for his name in Judges 13, verses 17-15: And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that when your words are fulfilled, we may honor you?” But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, for it is wonderful?” The angel’s name - who he was - was so great as to be incomprehensible to human beings.

Examples Of Name Changes

Like the angel, a person’s name in the Bible often reveals their character. Sometimes, a person’s name changes when their character or destiny changes. For example, in Genesis 17, verse 4, Abram’s name is changed to Abraham. Abram means “exulted father,” while Abraham means “father of a multitude.” God changed Abram’s destiny and gave him a name to fit his new role.

Another example is Jacob’s name being changed to Israel in Genesis 32, verse 28. Jacob means “supplanter” or “deceiver.” A study of Jacob’s actions up to this point shows his cunning and deceptive characteristics. But God changed his name to Israel, which means “God prevails.” No matter how much Jacob might plot and fight, God would still have His way.

The Different Names Of God Reveal His Character

The same principle applies to God. The only way we can learn about God is when He reveals Himself. One vital way God reveals Himself is through character-defining Names He either gives Himself, or others have given Him after an encounter with God. The unique names of God often come out of intense experiences, as we will see.

During a dark time in history, God revealed one of His most essential Names. The crack of whips and the cries of God’s chosen people forced into slavery and infanticide reached into heaven. Their deliverer was hiding from a murder charge in a distant desert.

The Names Of God:
I AM

Everything seemed hopeless until God decided to act, calling to Moses out of a burning bush that the fire was not consuming. Moses had lost all his self-confidence during his desert wanderings. Now, God wanted to send him as His representative to deliver His people from slavery and bring them into a new country. There were many gods in Egypt and the ancient world. Moses anticipated the people wanting to know what God was coming to rescue them; Moses wanted to know how to identify God to these people. What was His Name? We see this in Exodus 3, verses 14-15:

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” [NASB]

With this rich Name, God declared that He was the Self-Existent One. He has no beginning and no ending. He has always been and always will be. He also revealed that He is the Unchanging One. God has always been and always will be what He is right now. There was never a time when He was any different than He is right now. There is no “I was” or “I will be” with the eternal “I AM.”

In addition, in this Name, God is declaring He is the Source of supply for His people. Whenever a Christian has a need, God declares, “I AM the answer.” Do you need peace? I AM the Prince of Peace. Do you need hope? I AM your future. Do you need healing? I AM your Healer. What do you lack? Look to God for the answer.

The Names Of God:
Jesus Is The Great "I AM"

Jesus applied this Name of God to Himself in John 8 verses 57-59:

So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds. [NASB]

In identifying with the I AM of the Old Testament, Jesus claimed to be identical to Jehovah. He was claiming to be God. From the reaction of the Jews who heard Him, we see they knew precisely Who He was claiming to be!

The Names Of God:
The God Who Sees Me

God did not only reveal Himself to famous or soon-to-be-famous people. He is also interested in ordinary people like you and me. One of the first times God revealed Himself was to an Egyptian slave woman named Hagar. She had been proud and foolish, earning the wrath of her mistress, Sarah, the wife of Abraham. She had felt so mistreated that she had run away. The angel of the Lord came to her and gave her promises for her and her unborn son. In Genesis 16, verse 13, she responded by giving God the Name of El Roi - the God Who Sees Me. We may feel discouraged, that no one cares, that no one understands, that we are alone. El Roi is there. The God Who Sees understands who you are and where you are. Lift up your eyes and see Him coming with words of comfort, love and understanding.

The Names Of God:
The God Who Provides

Abraham also gave God a name after a heart-rending, dramatic incident in his life. When his greatly loved son Isaac, the son that God had promised him, was about twenty years old, God asked Abraham to offer him as a human sacrifice. With a heavy heart, Abraham took Isaac to the appointed place of sacrifice. Isaac voluntarily allowed his father to tie him and place him on the rough altar of stone. Abraham raised the knife, ready to plunge it into the heart of his beloved son. Before the downward swing began, God called to Abraham and stopped him. Then, Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket and offered the ram as a substitute for his son. In Genesis 22, verse 13, we read:

And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide… [NASB]

In this unique Name of God, we see that God will provide a substitute for us. We are sinful and completely corrupt. We have offended the Holy God more than we can begin to comprehend. There is no way we can pay the just price for our crimes against Him. Yet God Himself would provide a substitute by becoming a genuine human being in the Person of Jesus Christ and taking our punishment upon Himself. God has provided for our greatest need with unimaginable sacrifice; can we not trust Him to provide for all our other needs?

As the apostle Paul said in Romans 8, verse 32: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

The Names Of God:
The Lord Is My Shepherd

In one of the most famous passages of Scripture, David declares, “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” This passage in Psalm 23 reveals God’s tender care and protection for His people. With compassion, He looks after their every need. With diligence, He protects them from every attack. Even when they must walk through the Valley Of The Shadow Of Death, He is with them, leading them safely through.

The Names Of God:
The Lord Is My Banner

In another incident where God revealed His character, the vicious Amelekites launched a sneak attack on the weak and vulnerable in Israel’s camp. Moses sent his top general, Joshua, to defend them while he went on a hilltop to watch. Moses discovered that when he raised his hands to God, Joshua and his forces were winning the battle, but the Amalekites had the advantage when he lowered them. As the battle raged throughout the day, Moses’ arms grew tired, and he had two assistants help him hold them up. At sunset, Joshua was able to defeat the Ameleks.

In Exodus 17, verses 15-16, we read: And Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “Because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

In saying, "The Lord is My Banner," Moses was declaring that as they followed God, He would give them victory. The Banner was what soldiers followed into war and could also be used to provide them with instructions during the battle. When we follow Jesus, He will lead us to victory. The battle may be challenging, but the victory is secure. When we go our own way, we no longer have God’s guarantee of success.

The Names Of God:
The Lord Is Peace

Gideon was hiding in fear when he discovered a Name of God. He was trying to prepare food for his family in secret so the Midianite soldiers wouldn’t find it and destroy it. He was questioning the goodness of God when God, in the form of an angel, called him to deliver his people from the Midianites in Judges 6.

Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” And the Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”…When Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh, Lord God! For I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace.

When Gideon realized he was talking with God, he was afraid, as any sane person would be. Coming into the presence of the Almighty, Holy God is a frightening experience. Yet God was there to bring peace, not fear. Gideon built an altar and named it The Lord Is Peace to recognize God’s character of reconciliation.

But being at peace with God means being at war with His enemies. Gideon had to tear down the false idols in his town. He was scared and did it at night, but he obeyed. It almost cost him his life. We want to be at peace with God. We want to say The Lord Is Peace. But are we at war with the enemies of God? Too often, Christians want to cozy up to the enemy. They want peace with God and with the world. This is impossible as James 4, verses 4 -5 tell us:

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”?

The Names Of God Conclusion

If we embrace these and other different Names of God recorded in Scripture, they will have a life-changing impact on our lives. Let us pursue God wholeheartedly while simultaneously rejecting the tentacles of the world, which want to pull us away from our loving, caring God.

For more information about Glenn Davis, see our About Glenn page or visit Glenn Davis Books.

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