Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the different names of God that appear in the Bible, especially the Hebrew names in the Old Testament. I love that they each reflect a different facet of God.
A couple weeks ago in his sermon, our pastor gave us a challenge He asked us to find the name of God that most applies to our situation and meditate on that name and even pray with it.
We are facing yet another set of new difficulties in our family. Just when we thought we were finding our equilibrium, things are shifting again. I’ve been struggling to find my sea legs as we head into yet another storm, though this one is slow to gather and the anticipation is killing me.
As I was reading through lists of various names of God, I was drawn to the name Yahweh Jireh (or as it has often been mistranslated, Jehovah Jireh). God who provides. This one is kind of cliche so I was initially reluctant. But then I read in a commentary about how this is the name of God used when Abraham took Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him and God provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice. Suddenly it seemed very appropriate to our situation.
Sometimes God provides and prevents us from having to sacrifice but other times we have to let go of the treasured dream and believe that he is also the restorer. Click To TweetAs I was digging through various articles and commentaries I came across another name. Elyashib, God who restores. It’s unclear whether this was a name of God, per se, or whether it just a name the Israelites gave to their children to celebrate God’s attributes. I love that Hebrew names translate as whole phrases.
There are very specific times and situations in my life when energy, money or time was wasted, sometimes with good intentions, but also through foolishness. It is easy for me to look at past mistakes and blame myself for current or future circumstances. But that is forgetting that he is a God who restores.
Maybe not in the ways and times that I want, but he will balance the scales. That is what the vengence of God means, not that he takes revenge as humans do. But that he will somehow make all things equal in eternity.
I do not begin to understand this fully but I cling to it like a life raft as I see the waves beginning to crest.
Bethany, I’ve learned a LOT here…and we will be praying for you.
Years ago, when I first heard ‘Yahweh Girah’, my brain processed it as ‘Yahweh Gyro’, the God of a kind of Greek sandwich…boy, do I hope He has a sense of humour!
I’ve always believed that God has a sense of humor, otherwise he would have made humans to be serious all the time. I love that we each represent the various facets of God’s personality as well. Heaven is going to be a very interesting place.
Love your digging into the OT names for God; they are so rich, and apposite for today’s prompt. Thank you! (FMF6)
I love knowing which names of God are being used in various passages. I think it produces a much richer understanding, especially of common verses I’ve known my whole life.
This Abraham account was made more rich for me by Paul’s commentary on it in Romans 4, that Abraham was “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” This makes it a little easier for me to let things die in my life, trusting that God will indeed do what God has promised (even though it might not seem like it at the time). Thank you for your reflections today and sharing these Hebrew names for God. FMF11
Yes! I often need to be more confident than I feel that God will do what he has promised. I’m working on it. 🙂
Absolutely beautiful… I’d been to a women’s retreat a few years ago that issued the same challenge. It did alter how I tend to perceive God throughout various seasons of life. I am grateful that, in the midst of your rough season, you offer such a grace filled encouragement!
I love studying the names of God – and love your perspective on it!
{FMF#23}
I googled ‘God as restorer’ and your website came up! I love how God restores my soul at my precise, present moment in time, he restored your soul in 2018 when this was written, and He will ultimately restore all His children to Him when He comes again! <3