Who Is He to You?

The creator of the Prayer Walk mentioned in last week's blog came to our churches' ladies’ group to introduce that same prayer walk. This time, it would be provided for us! To that end, and to enhance our appreciation of the walk, she gave us a brief history of how she had felt God calling her to this unique ministry, including an explanation of the concept fueling the creation of the various prayer stations.

In short, each was centered on a name of God. The speaker gave a simple but enlightening explanation of the importance of these names. In a captivating voice, she elucidated, “My husband knows me as his wife. My son knows me as his mother. My grandchild knows me as his grandmother. And I am every one of those things—but alone they represent only a part of who I am. Each name gives an indication of how that person perceives me, but it does not represent all of me. Each gives a different perspective as to my complete identity and character, but alone they are each but one facet of who I am. It is the same with God. Each of His names reveals to us a facet of His uniqueness and character.”

I was blown away by her words. It made so much sense and gave me a whole new appreciation for the names of God. Each name is not the total sum of Who He is but is, rather, representative of one of His defining characteristics. If we really want to know Him, if we really want to understand His character, then it only makes sense  to get to know each of His names and their meaning.

If you look up the names of God found in the Bible, you’ll find too many to include here; for that reason I'll let you look them up on your own (Google might be intrusive, but it sure comes in handy for looking stuff up). I would, however, like to name a few of my own favorites with a quick peek at what they mean, hoping that this might whet your appetite to research more on the history, meaning, and use of each of these most wonderful assignations of our God. And as you traverse that holy ground, may they speak to you and make His character come alive to you as never before!

First on my mini list is Abba, the form of “father” used in the Lord’s Prayer. It means simply “daddy.” While it is an informal word that speaks of intimacy, it also conveys strength, love, and protection—the everything a father should be to his children. Perhaps you, as I, did not have an earthly father? Or was your earthly father lacking in those qualities he should have embodied? If your earthly father was less than stellar, no need to be despondent—in Abba Father we can come to experience the warm embraces and loving care for which every heart craves and yearns.

Second on my list is El Roi, the God Who Sees. We find this name in the bittersweet story of Hagar and her son, sent to find their way alone in the immense desert. But to her wonder, Hagar discovers she is not alone! God is very much with her, seeing her, and providing salvation for her and her son (Genesis 16). No matter what barren desert you find yourself in, you can rest assured that God sees, He cares, and He will provide a way out. This segues nicely into the next name.

Similar in some respects to the previous name is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord Will Provide. This is found in the heart-warming story of how God provided a sacrifice for Abraham to offer Him in lieu of his son Isaac (Genesis 22:14). No matter how impossible the difficulty before us seems, God is faithful and He will  provide. Always.

Fourth is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord is our healer. The older I get, the more grateful I am for this! In Exodus 15:26, after He made the bitter waters of Marah sweet, the Lord spoke to the children of Israel, reminding them of the great deliverance from Egypt He had wrought and reiterating His covenant with them, a covenant that included healing and health. He said, “I am the Lord That Healeth Thee.” He is our Jehovah Rapha. He is the God who heals us, even under our new covenant.

Last on my little list is Jehovah-Rohingya, the Lord My Shepherd. How fitting that he who was called from nurturing sheep, the boy who would later be known as King David, should know his God as the guiding, gentle, loving God represented as a shepherd in Psalm 23. How marvelous that this just God, this righteous God, this holy God, this omnipotent God, is also kind and tender-hearted with His children. May we, like David, come to say, “Thy gentleness hath made me great” (Psalm 18:36).

As I researched the different names and their meanings, I came across a lovely detail in God’s revelation of Himself to Manoah, the father of the famous Samson. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Manoah asked His Name. The angel answered, “Why do you ask my name seeing it is a secret?”

The word “secret” here can be translated as “It is beyond understanding” or “It is Wonderful.” Some theologians believe that this angel was just an angel. Others believe that this story is an example of a "theophany," a term referring to an appearance of God, including pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament. Because of the meaning of the name "Wonderful," I tend to side with the theophany crowd. Why? Because in Isaiah 9:6 the prophet foretold of Jesus, "And His name shall be called Wonderful ..."

That meaning moves me. Wonderful. Each name of God, each facet of His character, is nothing less than something that inspires delight, pleasure, and admiration; something extremely good and marvelous. And all those names of God, those wonderful, God-attribute-revealing names, can be summed up in ONE name—the name of Jesus!

Didn’t Jesus say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9)? Doesn’t Colossians say, “Christ is all, and in all” (3:11)?

The names of God are precious, eye-opening, revealing facet after fascinating facet of His character. And yet, they are all beautifully embodied in one Name, the name of Jesus.

No wonder we wept buckets of tears as we walked from station to station in the prayer walk. As we dwelt on His holy names, the character of our God became more clear, more real to us.

Jesus once asked His disciples, "But whom say ye that I am?" Across the corridors of time, that question from the great I Am, He Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, resonates in our spirit. Yes, we do indeed need to know Who He is.

May the meaning of His wonderful, incomparable Names fill each of us with greater joy and understanding in knowing Him.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2).

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).