El Olam - The Everlasting God

Over the last few weeks we have looked at many of the names of God like El Shaddai Almighty Creator. Jehovah Jirah the lord will provide, Jehovah tsidkenu the Lord our righteousness, Jehovah Nissi the Lord our banner and El Elyon God most High. I hope each one has meant something to you. This week I would like to introduce you to one that I was not as familiar with before this study. El Olam - The everlasting God or the secret God who rules and controls time and space.

Let me introduce you to El Olam.

Genesis 21:33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.

Yahweh the everlasting God. The first thing that we have to understand is the meaning of the word Olam the word has two meanings it can mean both time or age like everlasting (without end) or secret. It used both ways in the scripture, everlasting having to do with God and his relationship with His people and second as with a secret. The definition I found for the secret nature of Olam is that which is concealed or beyond comprehension. In the scriptures the word Olam is used in Leviticus of our hidden sins and in the Psalms it used to refer to the unseen realities. So I like to think of El Olam in my brain as God being the God of time and space.

God is the LORD over space time.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

A little over a month ago I talked about Isaac Newton, today I want to briefly talk about Albert Einstein the man who coined the term the fabric of Space Time. Now I have to tell you Newton’s science makes tangible sense to everyone. Einstein’s observable and repeatable science doesn’t make sense to anyone. When you start talking about Heisenberg uncertainty principle that it is impossible to know the position momentum and charge of an electron at the same time and that the very fact that you observe them changes the outcomes and positions of their state. Doesn’t make sense at all. The fact that things quantum tunnel and that gravity can bend light. And electrons and light and quantum entanglement don’t make any sense at all.

You don’t have to understand anything that I just said, BUT I am telling you when I read about El Olam, I think to myself God is in charge of all space time.

Dr Phil McGraw says something that I get offended by. He says “The past is the past and Even God can’t change the past.” I disagree God is LORD of everything.

God is in control of time and space. He can even change the past.

Isaiah 38:7–8 And this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken: Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.

This is the power of El Olam God is in control of this entire thing. All of time and every detail of your life God is in control of. Now I have to tell you God is most likely not going to turn back time for you. He could but he won’t for some reason He choses to move time forward except for some reason for Hezekiah but let me tell you He is powerful enough to do that and in the story of El Olam God proves that He is the Lord over everything. Even space time. We see that brilliantly illustrated in the future - history of Abraham.

God chose Abraham (Israel) to deliver us the Messiah.

Revelation 12:1–2 “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”

If you have ever read Revelation 12, you know that it takes a step out of space time and gives us a circumspect view of God’s plan for Israel the Messiah and the Devil. We get the big picture. I always ask the question, When was Lucifer thrown out of heaven? I get a lot of answers but there is only one that is correct. The correct answer is YES!!!!!!!! But in Revelation 12 we see that God clearly chose Israel to bring the Messiah into this world.

The Devil wants to ruin God’s redemptive plan.

Revelation 12:3–4 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

From the very beginning the Devil has wanted to ruin God’s plan to redeem the world and for some reason he continually tries to use Israel as his target to find a kink in God’s armor. Maybe because he knows how important Israel is to God’s plan and I think there is a lot of pride and Jealousy. But he has tried time and again to ruin the children of Israel and destroy God’s plan of redemption through Jesus death on the cross before it even started.

God is El Olam, the Everlasting God, and His plan will prevail.

Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

The Devil couldn’t stop Jesus from being victorious over the grave. Satan is still trying to look for the kink in the armor and is still trying to find it in Israel.

God still protects Israel.

Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

I know that verse 6 makes a transition from History to prophecy. But God is over time and space and He controls it all for Him there is no difference between prophecy and history He stands outside of time and plays with the fabric of space time like you may play with a blanket.

Enter Abimelech

Genesis 20:1–2 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

I started off this message let me introduce you to El Olam in the life of Abraham like I have a few different weeks here. Then I gave you one verse and marched from Genesis all the way to Revelation without any context in Genesis. I DID THAT ON PURPOSE. We have to understand that from the moment. God chose Abraham the Devil has been scheming to destroy him. This may have been his best shot! You say oh pastor what about haman in Pursia Pharaoh in Egypt a couple of times the Midianites or the Philistines or Adolf Hitler or Yasar arafat. FEWEY this is the Devil’s moment. There were a few others just as important in the gospel story but this was the Devil’s best attempt. You have to look at this circumspectly stand back and get the big picture. God had just come to Abraham and said this time next year you are going to have a child with that old hundred year old hag right there.

Sorry about using the word Hag I did that because I wanted to prove a point Sarah at her age was a ten. Men were fighting over her like she was 23. But Sarah laughed and GOD said Is anything too hard for the LORD. Sounds a lot like El Olam God is Lord over time and space, only He can change the past.

Then enter Abimelech. Remember what God said to Abraham this time next year. It only takes nine months to make a baby. I am right on the timing. correct and so she doesn’t have a lot of time. And that is when Sarah ends up on the edge of the bed of another man. She is about to be pregnant and there is going to be a paternity test. YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER. The devil is wringing His hands in delight.

God reveals Abraham’s secret sin.

Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

We know the story Abraham told Sarah. Wow you are pretty tell anyone who would steal you from me that you are my sister so they won’t kill me. HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE TRUTH. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH!!!!!! The devil had Abraham right where he wants him. This secret win will destroy Abraham. and God’s plan to bring Jesus. But as Mordecai put it so brilliantly in Esther salvation will come to the Jews by some means. God revealed Abraham’s secret and saved the Messianic line. There would be no question that Jesus came from the line of Abraham.

Abraham and Abimelech make a covenant.

Genesis 21:22–24 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

God is the keeper of secrets.

Genesis 21:27–29 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”

Abraham gives Abimelech 7 ewe lambs to broker peace because Abraham and Abimelech had a love hate relationship. If you read the entire story Abimelech tried to take Abrahams wife and well and didn’t know he was doing anything wrong. But God protects Israel’s lineage and land. and for some reason Abraham offers seven lambs. That seems super important and Abimelech even asks about them and we don’t ever learn why 7 but have you ever wondered about 7 s in the Bible or 3 s or 40s. Those numbers pop up again and again. Sure 3 goes with resurrection 7 is the number of perfection or heaven and 40 is the number of testing. But I don’t really understand it and neither do you. So unless you have a Bible verse. Don’t try to explain it to me with you foil hat. God is the keeper of secrets. He has His plan for time and space and He has an intricate plan for your life.

God is the everlasting, God of the ages.

Genesis 21:33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

It is best seen in God plan of redemption that came through Jesus by way of His father Abraham and His people the Jews. and God’s plan for them isn’t finished yet.

Trust the everlasting God.

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

He is in control of everything. I said Dr Phil says Not even God can change the past. That ain’t true at all. My sins are blotted out I now. He has forgiven me all my trasspesses and my sins He will remember no more. I have to tell you when we get to heaven. Sin will be completely gone. Have you ever my past with it’s guilt and shame Jesus dealt with it on the cross. They are GONE!!!!!!!

The Everlasting God is the living God.

Jeremiah 10:10 But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

The Devil will try to ruin God’s plans, but in the end God is still on His throne. He is alive!!!!

The everlasting God still has secret things in store for you.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

At times God will be silent.

2 Kings 4:27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”

Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

Don’t worry listen some times He shouts some times He whisphers in a still small voice and some times He keeps his everlasting plans secret but know that He stands outside of time and space watching over your past present and future. I don’t understand that but I trust it.

Trust God’s secrets.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Secrets aren’t always bad. One time I kidnapped my wife for the weekend on our twentieth anniversary. We had not gotten away for years. Myleigh and Lilleigh were new in our life and getting away seemed impossible. WE had to get permission from social services and it just seemed like we were stuck with five kids. Well I got everything set up. I called everybody had Aunts and sisters and everybody ready to watch the babies and I told Michelle were going out to breakfast for our anniversary. Meanwhile I had the car packed the reservations all made. we jumped in the car and drove to what she thought was cracker barrell. I drove right past Cracker Barrell and for a moment I think she was sad because she thought I was taking her to Mc Donalds. I got on the highway. Where are we going? What are we doing? What about the kids? Don’t worry about it dear. BUT BUT BUT!!!!! I shocked the socks right off of that lady. Husbands try it. You won’t regret it. I can still say remember that time I kidnapped you and it brings a smile to her face. Secrets can be good and I leave secrets to my God

Ephesians 3 tells us that Christ has secrets plans for us in His eternal plan.

Ephesians 3 is El Olam in a nut shell. It spells out that God is in charge of all the mysteries of space time. Trust Him as your everlasting God. You will never regret it.

We are blessed with the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

There is more to life with Christ than you will ever understand. Grab Him embrace Him and spend your time getting to know Him you will never be disappointed and then share Him with others.

God has a plan and reveals His secrets in His good time.

Ephesians 3:9–10 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

Did Abraham and Abimelech understand their place in Jesus story? NOPE!!!! Did Jesus reveal part of it to us in the church? YEP!!! Do you know every secret that God is keeping from you? no Are those secrets for your good? YES!!! It’s our secrets the devil’s secrets that are diabolical.

God has an everlasting purpose for you in Jesus.

Ephesians 3:11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

God stands outside of time and is working all things together for Good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose and His plans are eternal. He is Sovereign!

Don’t lose heart, God is in control.

Ephesians 3:12–13 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

That is the beauty of El Olam the everlasting God the revealer of secrets! Abraham was created to be God’s friend and so were you. He cares about Abraham’s life lineage and land. He cares just as much for you and if God has a plan for Abraham’s life and protected him even in revealing his secret sins God will protect you and the best gift the greatest secret just like a Christmas present all wrapped up in a bow. Isn’t it interesting that I used the word Christmas present the greatest secret gift that can be yours today is JESUS CHRIST. Don’t lose heart God is in Control that is the essence of faith.