Celebrating the Names of God.
You may have wondered why God has many names and what they all mean. Let’s examine a few of God’s names and the beauty behind what they mean…
Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide
In Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith is tested. God asks the father to sacrifice his beloved son. This is not a metaphorical sacrifice but a literal one that involves killing the most precious person to him.
Yet Abraham is willing. He sets out on a journey to bring his son to the appointed place. As they near the mountain, his son asks an innocent question that must have cut Abraham to the bone. “Where is the lamb?”
From the question, it’s obvious that Isaac has accompanied his father on other sacrifices. He knows from the torch and the wood that the only thing missing from their hike is a lamb.
His father, willing to be compassionate and not scare his child, whispers, “God will provide for the offering.” (Genesis 22:8)
Just as Abraham is about to complete the offering and kill his child—as the knife is poised in his hand—an angel calls out.
“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now, I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” (Genesis 22:12, NLT)
At this moment, Abraham looks up and spots a ram caught in the bushes. He sacrifices the ram in place of his son.
But then a curious thing happened: Abraham named God. He calls Him “Jehovah Jireh”. Some versions render this name as “Yahweh-Yireh”. But they mean essentially the same thing – God will provide.
God’s names reveal God’s character, and never more so than with the name of Jehovah Jireh. It’s a reminder to Christians everywhere that we can depend on God to provide for our needs.
However, you need to keep in mind that when God provides, you must learn to manage what’s being provided to you. For example, just because God provided you with $100 does not mean you spend $100 and credit cards. God does not provide more than you can manage.
Speaking from my experiences battling the devil in spiritual warfare. The reasons I have been able to successfully win every battle is the fact that I have always lived my life authentically, being myself, knowing whose I belong to, and not living my life for the Jones. If you are trying to keep up with the Jones even when you can’t afford to save for tomorrow, then the Devil wins.
God provides; however, he does not give you more if you can’t manage what is given.
You must be prepared for when the Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy you. If you’re living above your means when the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, you have no means to fight the devil in spiritual warfare.
The beauty of the name of Jehovah Jireh is that God intervenes. The same God that breathed life into a galaxy, and the tiny flea sees your struggle. He knows your needs. He will provide a way.
Remember that the way being provided might not be what other believers tell you it should be. God might tell you to use unconditional ways that Christians will tell you, but is not God speaking to you?
Just because you’re a believer does not mean you don’t work with non-believers. God uses you where he needs you the most. that’s why being a Christian does not mean you just say you are just because you read the bible. The devil’s camp knows the bible better than you.
Your only job is to climb the mountain you’ve been assigned. You walk obediently and rely on your Heavenly Father to supply your needs. This is the very definition of faith.
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner
The nation of Israel was camped in Rephidim. God had already delivered them from Egypt and was providing for their needs, including water (Exodus 17:5-6). In fact, this was the place where the Israelites had asked, “Is the LORD here with us or not?”
Then the word comes that the Amalekites, another powerful nation, are about to attack. So, Moses instructs Joshua to take his soldiers and go into battle. Meanwhile, Moses will be on the mountain with his hands lifted to God.
God granted the Israelite nation victory in the battle, and as a result, Moses selected a fascinating name for God.
“Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”).” (Exodus 17:15, NLT)
The significance of this name can be lost to modern audiences. But to the nation of Israel, it was a powerful reminder that a nation going into battle would display a banner (or flag) during their time.
The flag runner would be at the front of the army, carrying the nation’s symbol. Soldiers in the middle of battle could look to the banner to remember what they were fighting for. They could find strength and courage from this, for it was a rallying point in the face of death and destruction.
But there’s no record of Israel having such a banner…until Moses makes a bold declaration. He declares that God is the banner over Israel. He was making it clear to everyone that God was their rallying point. That He was the one they would find strength and courage from.
It’s easy during the battle to lose focus and get discouraged. Maybe you’ve been praying for your drug-addicted daughter to turn her life around. Perhaps you’ve cried out for your wife to be cured of cancer. Maybe you’ve begged God to heal your infertility and grant you a child.
Remember within your struggles whose child you are. So you do not beg God for anything. God is your father, so you don’t beg your father. You talk to God, take the devil to spiritual court, and give out spiritual restraining orders….. YES, you can give out spiritual retraining orders. You have dominion over the Devil. The problem is so many of us forget you have a dark side, which is what the devil uses against you.
Go to your father and repent, and let the devil know you are in control. before you can tell or show the Devil, you are in control. You must take control of your life and decisions. Every decision you make has a consequence
In the battle, God is your banner. He is your strength and courage. He is the one you must turn your eyes to if you want to find victory in this world.
Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Is Peace
Gideon is moving slowly, quietly. He’s trying desperately not to attract attention as he threshes wheat in the winepress. Though the job is difficult, he keeps going.
For seven years, his nation has been afflicted. Every time they plant crops or raise animals, an enemy nation comes and takes what’s theirs. Many people are on the verge of starvation.
Working as he did, he was probably terrified of being caught. He knew that not only would the little wheat be destroyed, but he might also be killed.
As he works, a stranger greets him, calling out, “Mighty Warrior, the Lord is with you!” (Judges 6:12)
Like so many would in his situation, Gideon bypasses the name. He doesn’t think of himself as a warrior. He’s hiding out, trying to scrape a living for his hungry family. In his mind, he’s no hero.
What he does focus on is the question he can’t stop thinking about. It springs immediately to his lips, “Why?”
It’s a question that haunts all of us at one point. Why did I have to be born to a drug-addicted mother? Why did my child have to suffer from a muscle disease? Why did my husband have to die in a car accident? Why did I have to make that stupid choice and end up here?
God doesn’t answer Gideon’s question. But He does appoint him. Sometimes in the middle of our whys, God gives us an assignment.
You were born to a drug-addicted mother…and now God calls you to foster kids who need the love of a good parent. You watch your child suffer from a muscle disease…and now God calls you to walk with other parents on the same journey.
In my case, I have experienced a lot of spiritual warfare. God calls me to teach and help others fight spiritual warfare and take control of their life. God calls me to fight the battles I have experienced to be a living example. God is alive today, and it does not matter how deep into darkness you are; God will provide a way out if you want.
Gideon is quick to point out why he’s not qualified for the assignment. It’s a normal human reaction to a daunting task. It’s a common response to say, “Whoa, wait a second. You’ve got the wrong person here. I’m not special.” Remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. You must also have faith in yourself. You can’t say you have faith in God without faith in yourself.
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