Sermon Tone Analysis

We are back to our study of the names of God.

If you recall from our first study in this series, There are four names by which God revealed Himself to man early in Scripture and human history.

All four are found in the early chapters of Genesis.

They are

“God” (in Hebrew, Elohim),

“LORD” (in Hebrew, Jehovah),

“Almighty” (in Hebrew, El Shaddai), and

As we will see, each of these names reveals some distinct attribute or characteristic of God.

In addition to these, we also have three other equally significant names.

However, the difference is this.

These three names give a description of God’s relation to certain things or people rather than emphasize His nature.

The three names are

“Lord” (in Hebrew, Adonai),

“The Everlasting God” (in Hebrew, El Olam), and

“Lord of Hosts” (in Hebrew, Jehovah Sabbath).

There were two very important considerations for the name Elohim.

The first was the fact His name speaks to God as being a Triune God.

He is Elohim.

Elohim is a plural Hebrew noun.

This plurality identifies God as being more than just one person.

He is indeed three persons.

He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Each are distinct persons but, yet, they are the same person.

They are God.

A fact establish with great certainty in God’s Word and one we covered extensively in our last study.

However, here is the one that I did not finish.

The name “Elohim” also signifies Him as being a God of covenant relationships.

“Elohim” Signifies a Covenant Relationship

“Elohim” is formed from the Hebrew word “Alah.”

“Alah” literally means to swear.

God describes Himself as One Who stands in a covenant relationship that is ratified by an oath by His very name.

If you recall, Genesis 1:1 gave us this first name of God.

He was “Elohim” long before men knew Him as “Jehovah.”

Thus, by His name “Elohim,” we know that God had already had a plan for man long before he was created.

And, it would seem, based on Genesis 3:4-5, both the Serpent and Eve knew “Jehovah” by His name “Elohim.”

Even then, God had already provided men with the understanding that He is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and a God of covenant relationships.

And, as “Elohim” (the God of a covenant relationship), He expresses these relationships.

His Relationship within the Godhead

Now, I will not spend a lot of time on this point.

My reason is this.

None of us can ever truly comprehend the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Suffice it to say is this.

His name, “Elohim,” declares the plurality of God.

He is three persons, but yet one.

He has certain relationships, both in and with Himself as God, that can never be dissolved or broken.

It is indeed the great mystery of the Trinity.

A revelation that was not fully realized until God’s Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, was resurrected from the dead.

He then declared to His disciples they must proclaim Him to the world as “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

However, from the beginning of time, the name “Elohim” contained and foretold that He was more than one.

Over time as God revealed Himself to men, it was through the law and the prophets that more evident indications came to light.

As to this beautiful relationship within the Godhead, we can go a step further.

Scripture also reveals:

All three of these passages clearly reference the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus, it would stand to reason, that God, “Elohim”, in a covenant relationship with the Son is also in a covenant relationship with all that is created and by which all things consists or held together.

Consequently, it is covenant relationship by which God already had a plan for man’s salvation and eternal life long before He created all things.

His Relationship with His Creation

God created us and our world with an infinite degree of perfection.

The entire first chapter of Genesis is all about the direct result of the word and work of “Elohim.”

Repeatedly, we read “God said” and “God made.”

Thus, through God’s name, nature, and undeniable work, we find a God who cannot rest until His fallen creature is restored and re-created.

Here is where we discover His most wondrous and abounding grace.

Only because of God’s grace that “Elohim” should restore and save His fallen creature.

It is of even greater grace that He would restore us and make us fellow laborers with Him.

We who sinned and rebelled against Him are now those He calls to work together with Him.

His love is the cause of His grace, and His Word is the agent that affects His grace.

The name “Elohim” always speaks of “One in covenant” and implies One who stands in a covenant relationship for the outworking of His purpose.

Note God’s covenant with Abram.

Genesis 17:1–8 (KJV 1900)

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God [Elohim].

At the root of the name Elohim, is this word.

“EL” - The Strong One

You will note on your chart that next to the name “Elohim” are various forms of God’s name associated with the root “El.”

Specifically, there are five.

I will give them to you as we cover them.

However, you will find that each one begins with the root “El.”

For instance, the first that we will cover next week is “El-Shaddai.”

The word “El” is a short title derived from “Elohim.”

It means “to be strong.”

As we move forward with the next five names of God, you will note how it is often used poetically.

There are number of instances where the word “El” is used to denote power not related to God.

However, these instances reinforce the meaning of the word.

Each of these instances have some context, so bear with me.

The person speaking here is Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law.

For sake of time, I will do my best to make this short.

And, the short version is that Jacob married both of Laban’s daughters - Leah and Rachel.

Laban essentially tricked Jacob into doing so.

As a result, Jacob ended up working for Laban for over 14 years.

After those years were finished, God led Jacob to move back to Canaan.

However, Jacob knew that Laban would not let him go without a fight.

So, Jacob packed up and left while Laban was busy with shearing sheep.

Eventually Laban found out that Jacob had fled with both his daughters and all his grandchildren of which Laban was not happy.

For seven days, Laban pursued Jacob.

When he finally caught up to them, he confronted Jacob saying, among other things, what is recorded in the verse on the screen.

Thus, the essence was this.

Laban had the “el” or the power to do great harm to Jacob.