REMEMBER THIS “NAME OF GOD” ON MOTHER’S DAY

The book of Genesis (chapters 1 and 2) opens with these two names for the God whom we worship. This is what Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. ” Elohim, in Hebrew, is a generic term for God and is referred to over 2000 times in the Bible. It refers to God as the creator of all things and sovereign over all the earth. This is more of a title than a formal name for God. In Genesis 2, there is a nice shift in the way the author of Genesis addresses God. This is the account of the
heavens and the earth when they were created—when the Lord God (Yahweh Elohim) made the earth and heavens. (Genesis 2:4). This is not a title for God, instead He is a God who has established a covenantal relationship with us. The God of Genesis 1 seems distant and impersonal while Yahweh Elohim is intimate, pro-active, and initiates a direct relationship with humanity.

Adonai is the plural form of the word Adon (lord) with a plural suffix ai, meaning my lords or my Lord. This usually refers to a master-servant relationship. This emphasizes God’ s sovereignty and personal relationship as master over His people. It is also an alternate term that is used for YHWH, which is too sacred to pronounce.

YHWH is the name that God refers to Himself when He speaks to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3. It simply means “I Am that I Am” . The name is linked to the verb “to be ” (in French, Etre) or “to become ” (Hebrew: hayah), indicating eternal existence. In another sense, it means I was (past tense), I am (present tense), and I will be (future tense). This is the holiest of names in Judaism, and even today, this name is never uttered in worship. In religious practice, instead of pronouncing the name, Jewish people use “HaShem ” in conversation and “Adonai” in prayer.

Just wanted to mention 2 other names, one that is a favorite of mine and another that is relevant as we celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10. The name Jehovah Jireh, which was popularized by the chorus with that same name, is the first of the two names. The context for this name comes from the text when Abraham takes Isaac for sacrifice in Genesis 22. Even though this is a very painful text to read and ponder, it brings to the fore the confidence and trust of Abraham in God to provide. Isaac and Abraham leave their servants at the foot of the mountain and are hiking the trails to make the sacrifice. Isaac turns to his father and asks “Here is the fire and the wood,” … “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide (Jehovah Jireh) for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son, ” Abraham replied. The two of them continued together. (Genesis 22:7b-8). God will provide or will see to it that our needs are met is what Jehovah Jireh means. Sumi and I still remember our seminary days and the way God provided for our needs in the most surprising and unconventional ways. The name Jehovah Jireh was not words
just written in the pages of scripture, but one that came alive every day of our lives.

Here is the last one of those names – El Shaddai. El is the shortened version of the word Elohim, and Shaddai is the root word for mountains, connoting power and strength. The context is Genesis 17, [W]hen Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the Sovereign God (El Shaddai). Walk before me and be blameless. Then I will confirm my covenant between you and me, and I will give you a multitude of descendants. ” El Shaddai is God who is awesome and beyond our human understanding.

Here is what one blogger writes about the name El Shaddai. “A (third) concept brings a different connotation. The Hebrew word shad means breast. The idea is that God is the one who nourishes, comforts and gives strength and sustenance to his people. He meets their needs just as a nursing mother meets the needs of her child. Think of the words bountiful and sufficient when you think of El Shaddai. ” 1 In a world that is replete or abounding with the patriarchal or male-oriented imagery for God, El Shaddai comes as a welcome relief. If you search the scriptures the metaphor of God as a mother figure is used in different places from the prophet Isaiah to Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel account, Jesus refers to himself in feminine language: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings ” (Luke 13:34-35). Here is my modest appeal: think and ponder the metaphor of a mothering God or El Shaddai when you celebrate Mother’s Day this year.

Committing your families to the “nurturing” care of God