The Names Of God

The Names of God

Exodus 1:13, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Zech. 14: 9, “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

I would like to speak for a little while on the subject, the names of God.

Names in the Bible have meaning. Biblical names show the character of the one who possesses that name. Several times, you will find that, as God changes the character of a man, He changes the name of the man to fit his new character. Jacob is an example of this. His name means supplanter, or deceiver, a name he lived up to when he supplanted his brother Esau, and deceived his father, Isaac. But when he wrestled with God, when he got a hold of God, and God changed his character, God renamed him Israel, a prince with God, or power with God.

This is a principle found throughout the bible, and it does not end with the names of mankind. We find Satan in the book of Job, standing before God, and accusing Job. It is no wonder that the name Satan means “Accuser of the brethren.”

Names reveal the nature and character of the one named.

After the fall of man, and after the flood, we find a people in the bible who did not know God. Little by little, God began to reveal himself to mankind, as they began to call upon him. One way God showed man His character was by names. In or text, Moses asked God His name. And God answered with the Hebrew name Eyah Aser Eyah. It means the all sufficient one. The self-reliant one.

Genesis calls Him YHVH Yireh, The God Who Provides, when Abraham said God would provide a lamb instead of his son Isaac.

In Exodus, God is called YHVH Rophecha, The God Who Heals.

Leviticus calls Him Elohim Kedoshim, the Holy God. He is pure, spotless, perfect, and free from sin.

In Deuteronomy He is called Elohay Kedem, the God of the Beginning. The one who is before all things, and who made all things. He is also called Elohay Elohim, the God of gods. This is properly translated as the God above all spirits, all angels, all beings of Heaven.

Nehemiah calls Him Elohay Selichot, the God of Forgiveness.

In the Psalms, He is called Elohay Chasdi, the God of Kindness, Elohay Mauzi, The God of My Strength, Elohay Yishi, The God of My Salvation, Elohay Tehilati, The God of My Praise, and YHVH O’Saynu, The Lord our Maker.

Isaiah calls Him Elohay Mishpat, the God of Justice.

In Jeremiah, He is called Elohay Kol Basar, The God of All Flesh. He created not just things in the Heavens, but all life on Earth. Jeremiah also calls Him Elohay Mikarov, The God Who is Near.

Ezekiel calls Him YHVH M’Kadesh, The Lord Who Makes Holy.

Judges calls Him YHVH Shalom, The God of Peace.

He is Elohay Chaiim, The God of Life.

God in the Old Testament had many such names, each name revealing part of His nature, part of His character. But, though they are names of God, they are not THE NAME of God. The Angel of The Lord appeared to Manoah, the father of Sampson, promising him that Sampson would be born.

Judges 13:17, “And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?”

We know that The Angel of The Lord is none other than a manifestation of God Himself. Because Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. And He would not tell them His name.

Jacob had a similar experience with God when God renamed him Israel.

Genesis 32:24, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”