Names of God (Part 1)

Who is G-d?

Okay, the title is a bit "big" and I am not even going to get close to a definitive expose on that subject, but it is the right title for this article.  In this issue, I want to explore a few of the many names of G-d.  There are charts and books and lists all over the place with names that we have given our Creator, or that He Himself has told us.  These "names"  are descriptive names that each show us one facet of the nature of G-d.

G-d is jealous of His Name and has given us some pretty clear indications that it is important to Him what we call Him.  Many times throughout scripture we read that G-d does certain things so that others would "know His Name", "fear His Name", or that His Name would be "declared". (Exodus 9:16, Jeremiah 26:21, Malachi 4:2)

There are more than 50 references throughout scripture where G-d refers to a place for His "name to dwell" or His Name being "in a place".  Deuteronomy 16:11 calls for family, friends, and strangers to gather and rejoice in the place where "the Lord your G-d chooses to make His Name abide."  In the well-known verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, G-d's people are actually referred to by His Name.  "If my people who are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face  and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Which brings me to my favorite verse:  Jeremiah 33:3 where the Lord instructs us to "Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  That's a wonderful, comforting, exciting verse where the Creator offers to show us amazing things we didn't know about.  All we have to do is call!  And in order to call, we need a name...

Listed below are a few to get you started.  These are just a FEW of the many names and natures of the magnificent G-d we serve.

Jehovah Jireh

As a name, Jehovah Jireh, only appears once in scripture.  In Genesis 22 we have the story of Abraham's sacrifice of his only son, Isaac.  You know the story (if you don't, PLEASE go read Genesis 22!)… Abraham takes his son to the mountain in Moriah where G-d had directed him.  The plan all along was to offer his son as a sacrifice to G-d because G-d asked him to.  At the last minute, G-d stops Abraham and offers an alternative sacrifice -- a ram (not a lamb, like he mentioned to his son, but that's another story).  In verse 14, after Abraham and Isaac had offered the ram on an alter as a sacrifice to the Lord, Abraham named the place The-Lord-Will-Provide (Jehovah Jireh).

Although the name itself only appears once, the concept is imbedded throughout scripture.  It is even the mantra of many believers in times of struggle… “G-d will provide”.  He is able to provide, partly because of the nature of the next name.

El Shaddai

This is perhaps one of the most well-known of the "El" names of G-d.  It generally means "The All-Sufficient One" or is more literally translated as "Many Breasted One", denoting an ability to nurture and supply sustenance.  The Hebrew word "Shad" means breast or breasts, and the suffix "dai" typically denotes provision, sustenance, or blessing.  The combination suggests a G-d who is able to supply our needs and provide sustenance and blessings to all of us, at the same time (hence, many-breasted).

The name "Shaddai" by itself occurs 41 times in scripture and is most commonly translated as "Almighty" in most English translations.  It is by this name that Job most often refers to his G-d (29 times).  The compound name El Shaddai first appears in Genesis 17, verses 1 and 2, where G-d tells Abram this name.  He says, "I am Almighty G-d (El Shaddai); walk before Me and be blameless.  I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."

El Roi

This particular name of G-d gives me a special comfort.  Sometimes when the trials and struggles of life become overbearing, it's easy to get caught up in the minutiae and before long, you can even begin to feel invisible.  When you feel like you are all alone and carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, remember, El Roi, the G-d who Sees Me, knows your struggles.

In Genesis 16, we read the story of Hagar.  Abram had been told by G-d that he would father kings and nations, but when he was 85 years old, he still had no children.  As we humans are prone to do, Abram and his wife Sarai concocted a way to speed up G-d's plans (never a good idea, by the way).  Sarai offered her slave, Hagar, to Abram to father a child since she herself was obviously barren (by the way, this was actually a rather common practice for the day.  The child would legally belong to Sarai).

Well, the long and short of it is, it worked.  Hagar became pregnant...and Sarai got jealous.  When Sarai "dealt harshly with her", Hagar fled the camp and ran off into the desert.  It was there in the desert by a well, in the midst of her distress, (In truth, isn't this where G d finds most of us, a lot of the time? Alone and in distress…) that G-d spoke to her and promised great things for the son she was carrying.  After hearing G d's promises for her son, she called Him "the G-d Who Sees Me" (verse 13) and the well where she heard His voice was called Be'er Lahai Roi -- the well of Him Who Sees Me.

Jehovah Ezer

This name of G-d , the Lord My Help, is not technically one that He ever gave us to use as a name, nor is it used as a proper name per se in scripture.  But, that said, there is scriptural basis for the name and it is certainly one that encapsulates His nature.  King David in particular makes reference to this name in Psalm 33:20, "Our soul waits for the Lord [He is] our Help and our Shield [Magen].  The words "He is" have been added by the translator to the original Hebrew for this scripture to make the language flow.  (Note:  Magen is the Hebrew word for Shield, thus Jehovah Magen would be the Lord our Shield).

The reference is used again in Hebrew 13:6 where the writer states "...The Lord is My Helper; I will not fear…"  (again is has been added for clarity by the translator.)  Of course, the concept of G-d as our Help is certainly not uncommon in the scripture or in practice.

In Deuteronomy, chapter 33  Moses issues his final blessings on Israel before he dies.  He names each of the tribes and gives words of blessing to them.  Verse 26 is one of the best verses in this passage.  "There is no one like the G-d of Jeshurun (Israel), who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds."  Imagine G-d blazing through the heavens, riding a cloud, just to help us!  It's a great image...by the way, Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel, derived from a root word meaning upright, just, or straight.  It is only used 4 times in scripture -- three times in this passage and once in the book of Isaiah.

El Olam

This name of G-d means "Everlasting One".  Now, unless He revealed it to us, we would have no way of knowing that He was an Everlasting G-d.  Everlasting denotes an infinite existence, but as finite beings, we really don't have a real grasp of what an infinite existence might mean.  We try, and we think we have it figured out sometimes, but the concept of one who has no beginning and no end, is honestly beyond our comprehension.

Abraham first called upon "the Everlasting G-d" in Genesis 21:33.  This calling upon G-d as everlasting was a stretch of faith for Abraham.  It was at this time that Abraham first made a foray into the "Promised Land", and  took up residence there, basically as a squatter.  He dug a well (Beersheba) and called upon "the Lord, the Everlasting G-d" to protect his well and, on a larger scale, his investment in the Land.  He was counting on G-d to protect that piece of property not only for the rest of his life, but for his descendants and their descendants in perpetuity.  He was counting on G d to be available forever.

The nature of G-d's dealings with Abraham up to this point have all been clues to His everlasting nature.  Look at the promises he made to Abram (Abraham) - father of many nations, descendants as numerous as the stars, possession of one of the largest pieces of real estate in the known world...these things don't happen over night.  These types of promises are for generations.  G-d was telling Abraham that He was going to be around for a very long time, nay, for an Eternity.

Another example of trusting G-d's permanence was Hannah.  Hannah  gave her child, Samuel, to "appear before the Lord, and there abide forever" (1 Sam 1:22).  Hannah too put faith in the fact that G-d was omnipresent and everlasting.  She expected Samuel to live in the temple and serve G-d for the rest of his life.

El Olam is the name of G-d that describes Him as unchanging and ever present.  He is truly the God who was, who is, and who is to come.  Because of this facet of His nature, He is able to offer us some pretty unique gifts:  an everlasting covenant, everlasting life, everlasting fellowship…

Jehovah Chesed

Another favorite of mine is Jehovah Chesed.  Chesed is a Hebrew word interpreted to mean mercy, grace, and/or loving kindness.  This is the one to remember when our plans fail, and circumstances seem to get the better of us.  When we don't know what's wrong, or how to even begin to ask for help, it is good to know that He is the G-d of Mercy, the G-d who is Kind and who has our best interests at heart.  It is easy to forget this when times get tough and it seems that He is not responding as quickly as we'd like.

Chesed is a complicated word and does not have a direct correlation in English.  Most uses of the word Chesed in scripture are translated as "loving kindness" when speaking of G-d's love for his chosen people.  Mercy, goodness, and kindness are typically used when referring to G-d's attitude toward man in general.  In all cases, the word Chesed is used in terms where a relationship exists.  It is not used as a general, all-inclusive, generic kindness toward mankind.

Chesed, translated as loving kindness—G-d's attitude toward His people, represents an infallible, unconditional, and unwavering love.  Chesed implies that despite all Israel's wayward faithlessness, G-d's love for them never faltered and never changed.  He remained faithful and just with a steady refusal to wash his hands of them, despite their sometimes wicked ways.

Nehemiah sums it up well with the verse "Remember me, O G-d… spare me according to the greatness of Your Mercy".  In times of trouble, people have always run to G-d and He has never let them down.  He has never forsaken those who bury their face in his side and run from their troubles.  It is his nature of kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

And finally, one more name for today’s lesson, and I think that this is one of the most important ones.

Adonai Tzidkenu

This final one is a very important name which is technically more appropriately applied to the Son of G-d, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah.  Adonai Tzidkenu means the Lord our Righteousness.  Let's start with Jeremiah 23:6 where scripture says, "In His days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called:  THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”   As a matter of fact, that passage is so important that it is repeated again in Jeremiah 33:16.  Sort of… you see, the difference in those two passages (and this is kind of big), is that the first time, the scripture refers to [Him - the Lord] as Adonai Tzidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness.  But the second time, the scripture reads "...and this is the name by which she will be called".  This indicates that Israel, by accepting that the LORD IS OUR [HER] RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jerusalem becomes righteous herself and is saved.

That is the way of Salvation!  By accepting that Yeshua the Messiah IS the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, that righteousness becomes who WE are as well, not of our own merit, but through the Chesed of G-d.