So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” Gen 22:14 (ESV).

Eight Names of God | Going Deeper in Him …

Hello friends! In this post, we will look at eight Names of God that have had a huge impact on my life. At times, I may refer to the book “Praying the Names of God” by Ann Spangler, as God powerfully used her book to open my eyes to a whole new way of seeing and relating to Him. I pray this post blesses you and helps you to realize that whatever your needs may be in the season you are in today, you can call on God by Name!

Let’s begin here …

NAMES OF GOD: Elohim (God, the creator) The term “Elohim” means “Supreme One” or “Mighty One.”

WHERE IT’S FOUND: We find Elohim in the very first verse of the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 NIV

Elohim is mentioned 35 times in Genesis chapter 1 and in the first few verses of chapter 2 in the creation event. In her book, Praying The Names of God, Ann Spangler writes that the name Elohim is mentioned 2500 times throughout the bible.

While studying the names of God a few years back, Elohim became very personal for me. I learned that Elohim created me in a unique way unlike any other, instilling in me certain qualities for a special purpose. He created me in His image. Not in the image of mankind, but His very image. Also, discovering that God knew me before He even created the world completely changed my perspective. I love His name, Elohim. He created me.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NIV

TAKEAWAY: Elohim lovingly took the time to form you into His very own image and not in the image of another man or woman. You are so unique, no one else in all of creation has your exact same fingerprints. You were intentionally created with purpose for a purpose, and it brought so much joy to Elohim’s heart to do this. How does this knowledge resonate with your heart today?

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NAMES OF GOD: El Roi (The God who sees)

WHERE IT’S FOUND: In Genesis chapter 16, Sarai (Sarah) gives her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to Abraham in hopes of building a family through her because she herself wasn’t conceiving. When Hagar became pregnant, she began to despise Sarai, so Sarai began mistreating her which led to Hagar running away. An angel of the Lord found Hagar and asked her where she was going. Then he told her to go back and submit to Sarah. Here is the rest of their conversation:

The angel of the Lord said to Hagar: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery” Hagar gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:11,13‭-‬14 NIV

Many times it can feel as if the Lord doesn’t see us. Do you ever feel like this? Days turn into months and months into years with no change in our circumstances.

I’m still praying for my 4 grown children and my 7 grandchildren to serve God with their whole hearts. As of today, not one of them is walking in this and it breaks my mama heart.

But at the same time, because of Sarah and Hagar’s story, I now know that God does see me and hears my cries. He desires for my children and grandchildren to know Him completely, even more than I do. As I write this, I’m being reminded that one of my children and one of my grandchildren who are currently seeking God in their own way. Although not completely surrendered yet, they are seeking and that is indeed an answer to prayer. Thank you, Holy Spirit!

TAKEAWAY: I don’t know what circumstances you find yourself in today. But in the middle of your situation, how does it make you feel to know that God sees you? He is so intimately familiar with you! If you feel lonely today, can I encourage you that you are never alone? God sees you, my friend. He loves you. He wants His very best for you and in His perfect timing, He will move on your behalf.

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NAMES OF GOD: Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider)

WHERE IT’S FOUND: We find the story of God our provider in Genesis 22:1-19 when Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham didn’t waver even once. His faith in God was so strong, he knew God would provide a ram in Isaac’s place. He just knew. Genesis 22:14 tells us: “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

I desire to have faith to this degree, how about you? Never doubting God but just knowing deep down that He will provide whatever I need in the exact moment it is needed. Whether it is money to pay the bills, strength to make it through a trying circumstance or supernatural help to forgive someone for a wrong they imposed on me. More faith, more faith, more faith!

Thanks to Ann Spangler’s helpful book, I learned to have a new perspective on God as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. In Praying The Names of God, she writes, “But have you ever considered it from God’s point of view? Watching the man and his son, did God feel something tearing at his heart, knowing that what he asked but did not require of Abraham—the sacrifice of his only son—he would one day require of Himself?”

TAKEAWAY: As you reflect on how Yahweh Yireh provided for Abraham and Isaac that day long ago on Mount Moriah, try reading it from God’s point of view. Looking through the filter of our heavenly Father’s eyes and His heart, imagine how He felt the day He made the most costliest of all sacrifices: providing his only Son as the ransom for all our souls. That’s how much we are loved!

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NAMES OF GOD: Yahweh YHWH (Lord, Jehovah) The Covenant Keeper.

• From Biblestudytools.com: A name of the Hebrew God, represented in Hebrew by the Tetragrammaton (“four letters”) יהוה (Yod Heh Vav Heh), which was transliterated into Roman script as Y H W H.

WHERE ITS FOUND: We see it used here in Exodus 3:13-15: Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

• From Biblestudytools.com: The name Yahweh (yah-WEH) occurs more than 6,800 times in the Old Testament. It appears in every book but Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. As the sacred, personal name of Israel’s God, it was eventually spoken aloud only by priests worshiping in the Jerusalem temple. After the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, the name was not pronounced. Adonay was substituted for Yahweh whenever it appeared in the biblical text. Because of this, the correct pronunciation of this name was eventually lost.

Yahweh Is the Self-Existent, Eternal God. In reality, God has no need of us. God stands alone in needing absolutely nothing, He is completely self-sufficient. This might not feel so good in that place deep inside of us that desires to be needed and to feel significant. But it’s true! God doesn’t need anyone and He is complete within Himself and He is eternal. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the only One in all of existence Who can be described in this way.

A. W. Tozer is quoted as saying: “To admit that there is One who lies beyond us, who exists outside of all our categories, who will not be dismissed with a name, who will not appear before the bar of our reason, nor submit to our curious inquiries: this requires a great deal of humility, more than most of us possess, so we save face by thinking God down to our level, or at least down to where we can manage Him.”

I have been very guilty at times of trying to bring God down to my level, how about you? I am extremely thankful that I will never be successful at doing so. It’s literally impossible. He’s God. I am not.

TAKEAWAY: Please don’t confuse ‘need’ with ‘significance.’ Although God doesn’t need us, we are very significant to Him and He wants us. He is a very relational God and desires to reveal Himself to us as we draw close to Him. In our broken and hurting world, how does it make you feel to know you were chosen by a covenant keeping God who wants you and will never break His promises to you?

A few more verses to consider:

“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalms 90:2 NIV

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

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NAMES OF GOD: El Elyon (The Most High God)

WHERE IT’S FOUND: Daniel 4:24-27 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my Lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”  

You can read how this dream was fulfilled here in Daniel 4:28-37. Take notice of verse 34 where Nebuchadnezzar praised, honored and glorified Him Who lives forever. Again, he praised, exalted and glorified the King of Heaven in verse 37 as the chapter closes.

I’ve always loved the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree, found in chapter 4 of the book of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar had become great and strong and his pride was taking over. One night, he had a dream that literally made him afraid. When his magicians, enchanters, astrologers, or diviners could not help him understand his dream, Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel in to interpret it.

One of the things I love most about this story is found in verse 34: as soon as Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes toward heaven, his sanity was restored. Not 10 minutes later, or 2 months later, or even 3 years later, but instantly!

At the age of 46, I became a prodigal child and remained in that state for a year and a half. After that time I returned to God, but it wasn’t easy for me. It took me 8 long years to completely forgive myself. I know God forgave me instantly, just as He did with Nebuchadnezzar, but forgiving myself felt impossible. I’m grateful to report that although I’m not proud of that season in my life, I no longer walk in shame because of it either. One of the main reasons I couldn’t accept God’s forgiveness is because I was too focused on others’ judgements and harsh words towards me.

• Commentary from the Blue Letter Bible: When we say God is omniscient, we mean that He knows all that there is to know. There is nothing that is outside the scope of His conception, understanding, or attention. God neither studies nor learns for one cannot increase a knowledge that is already insurmountable.

TAKEAWAY: If you find it impossible to forgive yourself for anything, I want to encourage you to get into the Word of God. Find verses on forgiveness and begin reading them out loud, day in and day out until you know God truly did forgive you the instant you asked.  

A few more verses to consider:

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalms 147:5 NIV

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1 NIV

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Names of God: Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

Where it’s found: Exodus 17:8-15: The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.

Ancient armies carried banners, or flags, that could be seen from far away and which identified them and their ideals. When we pray to our Yahweh Nissi, we are praying to the God who can powerfully overcome any foe. When the Israelites were in battle with the Amalekites, Moses held up his staff like a banner, appealing to God’s power. When he built the altar and named it: “The LORD is my Banner,” he was creating a memorial of God’s protection during their first battle after leaving Egypt.

This is one of my favorite names of God. Not only do I recognize God’s power in this name, I also see that I completely belong to Him. I am a part of His army. He holds His banner over me. I can imagine God, Himself, standing on the hill waving His banner over me, saying, “Susan belongs to Me.” This has given me the peace I needed to get me through many trials.

TAKEAWAY: As Christians we know the enemy will never stop trying to thwart God’s plans for our lives. It is his goal to keep us focused on our hardships, hurts, and struggles, and at the same time filling us with doubt. Like Ann, I wonder, “What difference would it make if you could say, like Moses, “The LORD is my Banner”?

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NAMES OF GOD: Jehovah Rapha or Yahweh Rophe (The Lord who heals)

WHERE IT IS FOUND: It is first mentioned in Exodus 15:26: He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

I learned that the Hebrew word rophe means “to heal, “to cure,” “to restore,” or “to make whole.” Shortly after God’s people left Egypt and were headed for the Promised Land, He revealed Himself to them as Yahweh Rophe, which means “the LORD who heals.” When we pray to Jehovah Rapha, let us ask him to search our hearts. Take time to let Him show you what it contains. If he uncovers any sin, ask for His forgiveness and then pray for His healing. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Great Physician, the Healer of the body and the soul. His miracles point us to the kingdom of God.  

I was going through a very difficult season in my life when God revealed another side of this Name to me. I had always viewed Jehovah Rapha as being a name referring strictly to a physical healing, so it never had an impact on me. However, about 2 or 3 years into this difficult time, as I was laying in bed weeping before God while reading Ann’s book, I came across her words: “The verb from which Rophe is derived occurs sixty-seven times in the Old Testament. Though it often refers to physical healing, it usually has a larger meaning as well, involving the entire person. Rather than merely healing the body, Yahweh Rophe (yah-WEH ro-FEH) heals the mind and soul as well.”

For the very first time, I finally understand that all the pain and heartache I was feeling was part of a bigger picture. It was the process of God healing my heart. Healing my heart from rejection, confusion, violations done to me, words of death spoken over me, etc. from childhood to that moment. I didn’t even know it was a thing, but I do now. I’m still in the healing process. If I had to put it in percentages, I’m happy to say I’m 80% healed. To me, that’s a lot and I’m so grateful that God never gives up on us. Isaiah 41:10 promises us that God holds us with His Righteous Right hand.

TAKEAWAY: Did you know that God is your personal Jehovah Rapha, too? He desires to not just heal you in your physical body. But He wants to bring His healing, wholeness and restoration to your soul, spirit, thoughts, and emotions too. 

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NAMES OF GOD: Abba Father (AB, ABBA, PATER)

WHERE ITS FOUND: Jesus introduces us to this beautiful and very personal Name of God in the New Testament. It is found over 90 times in the Gospel of John. And many of us know the story of the prodigal son where we can see the heart of our Heavenly Father on display. You can read about it here: Luke 15:11-31.

Jesus shocked many religious leaders in His day by referring to God as His Father and by inviting all of His followers to do so, too. Jesus helps us to see God as a tender and compassionate Father, who extends mercy and grace to both the sinner and the self-righteous.

When I read the words, ‘Abba is the Aramaic word for “Daddy,”‘ I cried because I could finally relate to my God as a Daddy. I know many women, myself included, couldn’t relate to God because we didn’t, and maybe still don’t, have a healthy relationship with our earthly fathers. I for one could not call God daddy. It was just way too personal for me and kind of gave me the creeps. On the other hand, I know people, including men, who have no problem at all calling God daddy.

God knew that I felt this way, not only because He’s God and knows everything, but also because I talked to Him about it. You know how people say God is a gentleman? Well, it’s true. Even though I longed to feel free enough to call Him, Daddy, I wasn’t there yet. So God led me to His name, Abba Father, for which I will always be grateful. I still don’t call Him Daddy, but I believe one day I will.

Many adult women have that daddy-daughter relationship with their earthly dads. I love and admire it so much! My earthly dad is in heaven now, so I won’t experience that relationship with him, but I desire to have that relationship with my God.

TAKEAWAY: Do you see God as your loving father? If not, what is preventing you from approaching Him in this intimate way. I would like to encourage you to begin practicing calling Him Father or Daddy by faith even if it feels very uncomfortable right now. Let your sweet faith trump your feelings and your feelings will eventually catch up.  

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In closing, Jesus taught us to revere His (and our) Heavenly Father’s Name in the Lord’s Prayer like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:9-10

• Commentary from the Blue Letter Bible: Hallowed be Your name? To hallow a thing is to make it holy or to set it apart to be exalted as being worthy of absolute devotion. To hallow the name of God is to regard Him with complete devotion and loving admiration. God’s name is of the utmost importance (Neh 9:5); therefore we ought reserve it a position of grave significance in our minds and hearts. We should never take His name lightly (Exd 20:7; Lev 22:32), but always rejoice in it and think deeply upon its true meaning.

It’s amazing the way the Lord will draw us closer to Him and transform our hearts when we begin to study the names and attributes of God. I once heard someone say, “When you read the Word of God, don’t look for yourself. Look for God.” This statement grabbed my heart, so I decided right then and there to read the Bible from beginning to end, looking for God. He is everywhere and I love knowing the God I serve is all-powerful.

NOTHING is too hard for Him … in my life or yours!

❤

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Job 11:7‭-‬9 NIV

Eight Names of God | Going Deeper in Him @ freshgracefortoday.com

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