”The people who know their God will display strength and take action.” (Daniel 11:32b)
The Bible is one of our greatest assets in knowing God. The more we know about God, the more we discover to worship and love about Him. Did you know that there are hundreds of names for God given in Scripture? He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 21:16) and our Fortress (Psa. 18:2; 91:2).  God is “He who changes deep darkness into morning” (Amos 5:8) and “a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1). He is Love (1 John 4:8). Each and every one of God’s names reveals something new to love and worship about Him. Just imagine how powerful our worship could become if we called on God using more than a handful of His names!
For the next few weeks, we will examine some of God’s names in Scripture and what they reveal about who He is. But first things first — what’s in a name?
Why Names are Important
Names reveal a lot about a person, and God’s names are no exception — they reveal His character, His attributes, His nature, and His ways. Knowing and calling God by His names will empower us to call upon Him in hours of need. It will liberate us to worship more freely and completely. It will enable us to know God more personally.
In addition to being filled with names and descriptions of God, the Bible contains several verses extolling the importance of God’s name. Isaiah 50:10 encourages us to “trust in the name of the Lord and rely on [our] God.” Proverbs 18:10 assures us that “the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.“ And Psalm 20:7 proves the power of the Lord’s name: “Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”
Let’s think about this for a minute and ask ourselves some tough questions — who do we turn to in times of anguish? To whom do we run for help? Do we trust in worldly counsel or our own judgment, or do we call upon the strong name of the Lord our God?
For what it’s worth, in Hebrew the phrase “to boast” means “to have confidence in, to trust in.” To boast in His name is to have confidence in who God is!  Over the next several weeks, we will examine some of the names used for God in Scripture and grow in our knowledge and love for Him. We’ll start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).
Elohim = Creator
“In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). In the very first verse of the Bible, we become acquainted with Elohim, God our Creator. Deuteronomy 10:17 says “The Lord your God [Elohim] is the God of gods….“ The Hebrew word El means “strong” or “mighty” and is used for any reference to gods, including Almighty God. However, the him ending of Elohim is very significant. In the Hebrew language, him is a plural ending, indicating more than one.
Elohim is the name for God as Creator. So does the construction of the Hebrew word mean that there is more than one God? No — Deuteronomy 6:4 tells us that “The Lord is our God [Elohim]; the Lord is one.” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit — the Trinity — created the heavens and the earth. Scripture fully supports the Trinity’s involvement in creation. In Genesis 1:2-3 we see a reference to the Spirit “hovering” and “moving” over the surface of the waters, and Colossians 1:16 tells us that in Jesus Christ “all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth.“ In Genesis 1:26, Elohim said “Let Us make man in Our image,” referring to the Trinity.
How does knowing God as our Creator give us confidence to boast in His name? How is the name of Elohim a strong tower for us to run into? First, we are unique creatures, created by God for His glory. The psalmist puts it beautifully: “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psa. 139:13-14).
Why were you born? What did Elohim create you? Isaiah sheds light on these questions in chapter 43 of his prophecy. Note what he quotes God as saying in the following verses:
v1 — “But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.’”
v4 — “you are precious in My sight…you are honored and I love you.”
v7 — “Every one who is called by My name, and whom I have called for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made”
These verses show us that we were created for God’s glory — to live in such a way that the world will know Him through us. Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things and because of Thy will they existed and were created.” We were created for God’s will (translated pleasure in the King James Version). God’s will and pleasure are essentially the same — if we live for His will, we give Him pleasure. If we bring God pleasure, it is because we have done His will.
To summarize — Elohim created us for His glory and pleasure. He delights in us when we obey His commands and give our worship to Him alone. As God’s creation, we have an opportunity (and responsibility) to live in a way that reflects His character in a world that desperately needs to know Him.
Challenge
What does it mean to you to have been created by Elohim? What does it mean to be called by His name?
How would you live if you were to live for His glory — are there things you need to do differently to fulfill the purpose of your creation?
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