GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 11 ~ ~ Psalm 91:1 ~ ~ “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Excerpts from “The Power of God’s Names” by Dr. Tony Evans. There are over 85 specific names for God in the Bible. They’re not just names, they each describe a different characteristic of His relationship of Love and Grace to those who have believed in Him for salvation.

(Studying the first name for God mentioned in the Bible, Elohim.)

Elohim as the Creator.

God identifies Himself as ELOHIM 35 times at the start of Scripture. In fact, ELOHIM is the only name used for God from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3. other names come later in His personal revelation of His character throughout His Word, but ELOHIM is emphasized in the beginning.

I believe one reason for this focus on this particular name of God is that from the outset He wants us to understand His power. The literal translation of the name ELOHIM is “Strong One”. It has to do with God’s sovereignty and His authority, reflecting the greatness of His power.

The name ELOHIM also identifies God as the Creator. In the beginning, ELOHIM (The Strong One) created. The term “created” is only used of God in the Bible, it is not used of men. This is because men reconfigure, recalibrate, or reform things. Mankind does not create something from nothing. We lack the power, ingenuity, and ability to create from nothing. God, on the other hand DOES create from NOTHING– “ex nihilo.”

The Book of Hebrews describes God’s creative prowess:

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11;3)

The author of Hebrews lets us know not only that the strong and powerful God created visible things out of the invisible but also that God created worlds (plural). And He created the worlds without having any raw material with which to work.

Now, I don’t know how many inventors you know, but it’s highly unlikely that you know of an inventor who invented something out of nothing. Anyone who designs, builds, or creates anything on planet earth used something in order to do that. Only God, ELOHIM makes something out of nothing.

In fact, God didn’t even need to use His hands to create—His mouth was enough. In Genesis 1, we marvel that all God had to do was speak the world into existence and into order.

Perhaps this is one reason why God seems to become upset or annoyed when we doubt His ability. For example, when Abraham and Sarah doubted that God could create a child through them, God replied, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) Creating a child in the aged womb of a woman was nothing compared to creating the worlds out of nothing.

In a similar vein, when the virgin Mary wondered how she, a virgin, could bear a child, the angel addressed her concerns squarely: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)

Friend, whatever situation you’re facing today or whatever challenge you’re trying to overcome, I want to encourage you to remember the name ELOHIM.

STRONG ONE doesn’t need raw material with which to work. He doesn’t need logic or tangible solutions in order to accomplish His goal. All he needs is Himself, and all you need is faith in His name that he can do all that He purposes to do.

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