Who Is God?
When someone asks you who you are, your first reply is to tell them your name. If that doesn’t satisfy them, then you begin to describe what you do, where you come from and any other information that would help them understand who you are. The same is true with God. Man does not know God and for God to be known by man, He must reveal to man His name, nature, work and purpose. Man does not invent God and give Him the attributes he desires, but rather God reveals Himself to man. Because God is infinite and multi-faceted in His character, many names are revealed to help mankind to better understand and relate to Him.
The first name of God revealed in the Bible, (Gen. 1:1), is the name Elohim. This is the plural form of El or Eloah and means: Creator, Mighty and Strong. From the first verse of the Bible, the nature of God’s power is evident as He speaks the world into existence. The plurality of the name, sets the framework for further understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. This is highlighted in verse 26, when He says: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
The use of Elohim, as the first name of God, distinguishes God from man. He is creator; man is His creation. He is powerful; man is weak. This name also shows the elevated nature of His character, as in: “God is not a man that He should lie or a son of man, that He should repent,” (Numbers 23.19). After man’s fall into sin, man began to serve the creation, rather than the Creator. He made images according to his own likeness and what was familiar to him. He attributed to these images various divine and human attributes and power.
God responded to the deviance of man by saying He was: El-Shaddai, God Almighty. He is the “mighty one of Jacob”, (Ps. 132:5 and Gen. 49:24). He is above, more powerful and completely separated from other principalities, powers, heavenly hosts, demons and idols. This composite form of El describes the nature of His power as compared to other ideas proposed by man. Here are a few more such descriptions:
El-Elyon: Most High, (Deut. 26:19).
God is “elevated, ascended, on top, etc.” There is no other above God. This gives Him the absolute right to lordship.
El-Gibhor: Mighty God, (Isaiah 9:6).
This describes the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as the Mighty God, who delivers us from sin.
El-Olam: Everlasting God, (Ps. 90:1-3).
God is without beginning and end. He is the cause of time. He is not in time.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Gen. 1; 7:1; 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33; Psalms 23