Why Do the Names of God Matter?
When you hear your name called out, it catches your attention. That’s because our names represent who we are and a little bit about us. Most of us have several names that we go by. I know I do.
When our names are called out, we know them. We identify with them. We answer to them. God does as well. When we call out His name, He answers us. The Name of God is all-powerful and eternal. We find a list of several names of God in the Bible. Jehovah/Yahweh (Lord), Elohim (Creator), Jesus, and Holy Spirit are all names that refer to God.
As you read the Bible, you will discover that God reveals Himself to us through His characteristics and attributes. He starts in Genesis with the name Elohim (Creator) and then continues to move through the pages to reveal Himself as Yahweh/Jehovah (Lord) and many more.
The names of God show us the many different ways He is present for us.
Do not take the Lord’s name in vain. —Exodus 20:7
God takes His name seriously. That’s because He knows all power and authority come through His name. There is no other name given by which we can be saved besides the name of Jesus.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. — Acts 4:12
Elohim is the primary name used for God in the Old Testament and is used 2,599 times throughout the Bible to refer to God as Mighty, Powerful, and the Creator over all. Elohim is the first name given to God and is found in the very first verse of Genesis 1:1.
“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”— Genesis 1:1
The term “Elohim” means “supreme one” or “mighty one.” He is the great and powerful God that shows His authority by His creation. Elohim is the infinite, all-powerful God who shows by His works that He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Supreme Judge of the world.
“El” means “God,” as we will see in several of the names we study together. El Elyon - “The Most High God,” El Shaddai - “God Almighty,” El Qanna - “Jealous God,” El Olam - “The Everlasting God” … As you can see, each name refers to God, along with one of His many attributes.
Yahweh is one of the most used names for God and is found 6,519 times in the Bible. We first see Yahweh appear in Genesis 2:4.
“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God (Yahweh) made the earth and the heavens.” —Genesis 2:4
Yahweh is the promised proper name of God. It means Self-existence. By Jewish tradition, this name is too holy to pronounce or write. Therefore, they just wrote four letters without any vowels: YHWH. Jews stopped saying the name altogether in the third century because they feared violating the fourth commandment, which prohibits misusing or taking the Lord’s name in vain.
Through these names, God continues to introduce Himself to humanity to assist us and meet us through struggles, difficulties, trials, or victories.
To read more from Tammy Hotsenpiller’s Fasting With God, visit MyCharismaShop.com