Names of God and What They Mean
By Allyson Holland
“And those who know Your name will put their trust in you.” (Psalm 9:10)
How well do you know God? His character? His heart?
It’s not enough to know about God. It’s through His biblical names that you can become intimately acquainted with Him. When you understand the meanings of God’s names then you will understand His character and His heart. He wants you to know Him. He wants to be in close personal relationship with you.
Names of God: Elohim
God is Elohim—He is your Creator.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Have you given much thought to the power God used to create the universe? How about God’s insanely creative imagination as He designed planet earth? Whether it’s hiking in the mountains, enjoying some time at the beach, or taking a leisurely walk through the woods, there’s no denying that nature is one way to connect with Elohim.
Names of God: Abba
God is Abba—He is your Father.
“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
When you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, God adopts you into His forever family. You bear His name—Christian. And you are known as one of His children by your behavior. How wonderful to be able to call God such an intimate name—Abba.
Names of God: Jehovah Ro'i
God is Jehovah Ro’i—He is your Shepherd.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
The English countryside is breathtaking. The green pastures and grazing sheep are picturesque. It’s easy to imagine what it must have been like to walk the earth while shepherds watched their flocks at night. Sheep without a shepherd quickly go astray. They may even lose their way.
Do you find yourself feeling alone? Like you’re wandering around in life with no guidance or direction, kind of like a sheep without a shepherd? Well, Jesus is your good shepherd and He is always with you and always watching over you. And even when you don’t think you can continue to go on in your own strength, He is there to carry you through when you need Him most. He is your Jehovah Ro’i.
Editor’s Note: The following was adapted from 10 Names of God and What They Mean by Allyson Holland. To read the full article, follow this link.
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