Names of God, Part 1

    There are nine Hebrew and Greek words translated into the English word God.  Eight of the nine words refer to God and one refers to demons (daimonion).  The Hebrew words el, elah, elohim, eloah, and the Greek word theos all appear to have similar meanings and generally refer to God as the one to be worshiped.  According to Vines they suggest God's power and preeminence.  The words, el and elohim, are identical in meaning except el is singular and elohim is plural. 

    In one of the curious attributes of the Hebrew language even though elohim is plural it takes a singular verb!  This is suggestive of the Godhead as set forth in 1 John 5:7, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  In the Genesis account of creation, elohim, is the only Hebrew word used for God in chapter 1.  The plurality of the Godhead is manifested in verse 26, "And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..."  In many pagan religions the gods of their worship were polytheistic but each of the gods were separate and distinct entities.  The God of the bible is separate and distinct in that the scriptures plainly teach there is but one true and living God yet the Godhead is made up of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  While our carnal minds struggle to understand such a concept, yet our God has confirmed to us that it is true and has set the mark of the Godhead on all of His creation: Rom. 1:20, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead..."
 

    The exclusive use of elohim in Gen. chapter 1 correlates that name with God as Creator.  There is only one creator and that is God.  Rev. 4:11 verifies this fact: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power! For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Gen. 1:1 thru Gen. 2:3 gives us an account of God creating all natural things.  In addition, Eph. 2:10 tells us that God is the creator of all spiritual things as well: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
   

    Seven times in the old testament the word, el, appears with the word, shaddai or el shaddai meaning God Almighty.  The word Almighty refers to God as the all powerful one who has power to create all things, to control all things, and to uphold all things, thus the combination of el shaddai as used in the old testament speaks of God as the Powerful One executing God's promises.  Similarly, the seven times that the combination of God Almighty appears in the book of Revelation is closely associated with God as the powerful executor of his everlasting covenant of redemption.  Thus the name el shaddai or God Almighty is linked in the scriptures to the executor of  the eternal covenant of grace (salvation) as set forth in Rom. 8:28-30, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them, he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."  In considering this covenant we can easily see the mighty power of God, who created all things and who upholds all things, at work to bring about the provisions of this eternal covenant.
 

    In conclusion, the words el, elohim, eloah, and elah describe God to us as the almighty, all-powerful creator/upholder God and powerful executor of the everlasting covenant.  In addition the word elohim describes the three and one Godhead.  They all describe God as the preeminent one who is worthy of our worship.
 

In our next essay we will consider the name Jehovah as it describes God to us.
 

Names of God, Part 2

     Ex. 6:2, 3, "And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."  The name JHVH or YHWH appears in the old testament over 6000 times and is translated primarily into English as "Lord" or "Lord God."  According to Vines the tetragrammation YHWH appears without its own vowels and its exact pronunciation is debated (Jehovah, Yehovah, Jahweh, Yahweh).  In the above quoted text God tells us that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know him by the name Jehovah.  It wasn't that the name Jehovah was outside their mental knowledge, but they had not experienced the fulfillment of that name.  The name JEHOVAH is God's covenant name.  The name Jehovah translated Lord God and Lord first appears in Gen. 2:4 and its chief use is in connection with the covenants God made/fulfilled.  The name is used in connection with the covenant of the law of sin and death and with the covenant of marriage both of which are set forth for us in the second chapter of Genesis.  Furthermore the name is used throughout Gen. chapters 3 and 4 as the scriptures unfold to us God's dealings with man under the covenant of the law of sin and death. In similar fashion in Gen. Chapter 12 when God began to reveal his covenant promises to Abram the English word Lord is translated from the Hebrew "Jehovah."  Most frequently when God spoke to Abram and to Isaac and to Jacob about the covenant promises it was under the name Jehovah that he spoke to them.
 

    Now our text says that by the name of Jehovah God was not known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Now it is apparent that they knew the name Jehovah in association with the covenant promises.  However, they did not know the name experientially in the fulfillment of those covenant promises.  God is not only a covenant making God, but he is also a covenant keeping God.  In Ex. 6:1-8 the name Jehovah appears six times as God proclaims to the children of Israel thru Moses that he is going to fulfill the covenant that he established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Four times in the passage we see the phrase "I am the Lord," which means "I am Jehovah."  Thus as God declares to them he is come to fulfill the covenant it is as the covenant making/covenant keeping Jehovah that he comes to fulfill his promises.  Also in this passage there is a declaration of seven things God is going to do to fulfill his covenant.  

These seven things are:
1.  "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."
2.  "I will rid you out of their bondage."
3.  "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm and with great judgments."
4.  "I will take you to me for a people."
5.  "I will be to you a God."
6.  "I will bring you into the land..."
7.  "I will give it you for a heritage."
 

    Any discussion of the name Jehovah would be incomplete without noting the everlasting covenant of redemption which God made before the foundation of the world and which God will completely fulfill at the end of this time world.  This covenant is set forth for us in Rom. 8:28-30, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."  In this covenant that God made before the world began there are five things that God has promised to do for his covenant people.  

These are:
1.  Foreknew them.
2.  Predestinate them.
3.  Call them.
4.  Justify them.
5.  Glorify them.
 

    Since God is Jehovah and we know by the name of "Jehovah" God is both a covenant making and a covenant fulfilling God we can rest with the sweet assurance that Jehovah has/will fulfill all five provisions (promises) of the everlasting covenant of redemption.  Previously we had noted that God as "God Almighty" manifest himself as the power of execution of the covenant of redemption.  Now we conclude that as Jehovah, God manifests himself as the covenant maker/fulfiller of this everlasting covenant of redemption.
 

Firstborn

Matt. 1: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Luke 2: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Rom. 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Col. 1: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col. 1: 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Heb. 1: 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb. 11: 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb. 12: 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Rev. 1: 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

4416. prototokos, pro-tot-ok'-os; from G4413 and the alt. of G5088; first-born (usually as noun, lit. or fig.):--firstbegotten (-born).

(Note: First, adj.-- 1.[Formost in order]- beginning, original, antecedent, inceptive, in the beginning, front, head.

Led of the Spirit

Rom. 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” It is evident that this verse teaches us that being led of the Spirit of God is not the cause of one being a son of God, but is the evidence of one being a son of God.

To the elect child of God there are two types of leadership of the Holy Spirit. There is the “effectual” leadership and there is a timely guidance of the Holy Spirit.

All of the elect of God are drawn of the Holy Spirit in regeneration or the new birth. We read in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” There are some who will argue that this coming to Jesus is something the sinner must do thru his efforts. However, John 6:44 tells us, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The word “draw” in this verse comes from a Greek word meaning “to drag.” This would be similar to a horse drawn carriage. The carriage does nothing to move itself. The horse does all the work and puts forth all the effort to move the carriage. Similarly, we come to Jesus in regeneration, because the Father draws us to Jesus. The Father in the person of the Holy Spirit draws or drags us to Jesus thru the new birth. In this work of God we are completely passive. God does all the work.

As Spirit born children of God we need something in our lives that can only come thru the timely guidance or leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are all faced with problems, trials, tribulations, persecutions, failings, and shortcomings and often have not the knowledge or understanding on how to deal with our problems. These problems can be relationship problems, workplace problems, church problems, family problems, or health problems. Thanks be to God that he has not left us comfortless.

The children of Israel were led throughout there wilderness journeying. Ex. 13:21 read, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:” Whenever, the cloud came and abode above the tabernacle the children of Israel made camp and rested in their tents until such time as the cloud removed from above the tabernacle and went forth. Then the children of Israel broke camp and followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. This continued for the 40 years of their wilderness journeying.
Today we are not led by a cloud or a pillar of fire, but the leadership of the Holy Spirit that we have today is even better than what the children of Israel had. God’s people are each led by the Holy Spirit. A wonderful illustration of that leadership is found in Gen. 24:12, “And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.” The servant had the experience of his prayer being answered even before he had finished his prayer.
There are several ways that we can see the leadership of the Spirit in our lives. Before we explore those ways, we need to remember to ask for that leadership. The Lord said, “Seek and ye shall find, Ask and it shall be given you, and Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” James said, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” One of the great reasons that we don’t see more of the leadership of the Spirit in our lives is because we fail to ask for it. James also said, “Ye ask and have not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might consume it upon your lust.” Often we ask for things selfishly and don’t receive the leadership of the Spirit. If we ask for things unselfishly, but for the benefit and furtherance of service in the kingdom of God, then the Lord has promised he will give it to us. Thus it is important that we pray that the Lord’s will be done.

One of the ways we see the leadership of the Spirit in our lives is thru the circumstances of life. We need to remember that the Lord opens doors and no man can shut and he closes doors and no man can open. Young people should remember this when seeking a spouse. We should also remember this when we are seeking employment or where the Lord would have us live or what Primitive Baptist church the Lord would have us attend. Many of God’s people have found that when seeking a job and praying that God would direct them, that all job possibilities but the one that the Lord had in mind for them was closed and the one was opened especially for them.

Next, we find the Spirits leadership in the preaching of the gospel. I know of no preacher that knows what each member of the congregation needs. However, God knows what we need better than even we know. How many times I have experienced and I am sure many of the readers have experienced that when I have had questions or problems that I was seeking answers to that the preacher was led to preach on the very thing that I was needing help with. This happens many times with the Lord’s people and is an assurance of the leadership of the Spirit in their lives.

The most common way that many of God’s people are led by the Spirit is thru the word. Ps. 119:105 reads, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Also Ps. 73:24 reads, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” David believed so strongly in the leadership of the Spirit through the word of God that he said in Ps. 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Job believed in this principle also as he wrote in Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” It has been my experience that when faced with the problems and troubles of life and when needing to make decisions that I was uncertain of that often after I had prayed about the problem or decision that the answer has come to me thru the Spirit directing my mind to a verse of scripture. Obviously the more that we know of the word of God the more that we will experience the Spirit’s leadership through the word in our lives.

There are means by which we see people in the scriptures led by the Spirit such as through dreams and trances, etc. These, however, would seem to be the exceptional cases and not the rule. There are, therefore, several ways that the Spirit leads us and we should be thankful for each one and for each time the Spirit has led us, for it is indeed a blessing to us to be led of the Spirit.

Vernon Johnson