By Robin Wiley
Have you ever wondered how many names does God have? I once did a Google search, and, got anywhere from seven to over a hundred answers. Confusing right? Well this type of inconsistency can only be understood once you understand what a name is
A name can be so many things such as a legal proper name, how you address a person, a title they bear, a pet or nickname, or an attribute (something that describes them or a characteristic of theirs). In the Bible, we find two names God decrees as His, (Yahweh/I Am and Jehovah) but we find many more names people have given him, such as Adonai or Abba Father. There are also names given to God through prophecy, as well as scriptures where God refers to Himself with a name, Wonderful Counselor or Immanuel.
You’re not a bad Christian if you do not know all the names of God. I certainly do not know them all – probably Pastor Ray and Pastor Parker don’t know them all either. There are literally hundreds of names and titles for God found scattered throughout Scripture.
There is NOT a penalty in life for lacking this information, but it is important to have a name you can personally call our Creator. I call Him “Father God” because for me, God is both a father as well as my God. It’s becomes a personal connection for me to call Him by that name.
I also use God’s other names when it is necessary to call upon God in that way – like Jehovah Rafa – the “God who Heals”, especially during this uncertain time when so many people are hurting. I also like His name El-Shaddai because it means “God Almighty” – a God of might and tenderness. His strength goes before me and his tenderness surrounds me. I feel safe and loved. How awesome God becomes to us when we call Him by name.
All of this points to the fact that we should all learn the names of God because they help us to know His character more. As Christians, we strive to become more like God. And how we do so, is by learning about God's character. How we learn about God's character comes from understanding the meaning behind the names for God in Scripture. At the same time, God’s names show us many different ways in which He is there to help us in our times of need.
For instance to name a few:
Jehovah Jireh: The God who provides (Genesis 22:14).
Jehovah Shalom: The God of Peace (Judges 6:24).
Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.
Prayer:
Father God, even though you might have many names, your character remains the same; never changes. You even knew the number of hairs on my head before I was born. Thank you for loving me so much. Let the meaning of all your names rest in my heart and become fruitful. I pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus – Amen.