El Elohe Israel - The God of Israel

Introduction

Tonight we have a new name for God that we are studying. We are still under the category that utilizes the name “El.” El, as we know, means the God of Power, or as we might say, the God of Great Power. He is indeed a God of awesome power.

Under the name “El,” we have several compound names such as:

Elohim

El Shaddai

El Elyon

El Roi

The last of of which we will consider is the compound name “El Elohe Israel.”

However, before we do, let’s look at our chart and fill in this name.

Explain chart and fill in the name “El Elohe Israel - The God of Israel.”

Next week, as the Lord wills, we consider another popular name, the name Adonai. It is important to understand His name as “Adonai” before we begin our study of His name “YHWH” or as it is known as “Jehovah.”

However, before us this evening is “El Elohe Israel.” For it, we turn once again to Genesis. Whereas this time we are going to look at the life of Jacoby and not Abraham as we have done in the past.

Before I get there though, let me ask you as question. Over the past few weeks, we have spent a large amount of time thinking and considering Abraham, his journey, and his relationship with the Lord. During that time, what aspects of Abraham’s life and relationship with God has stood out the most to you?

Give time for some answers.

Okay, now let’s get back to the subject at hand, Jacob. As we know, Abraham and Sarah gave birth to who? (Isaac). Isaac married Rebekah. They had two sons, Esau and Jacob who were twins. Esau was ruddy and a man of the woods. He loved to hunt. Jacob, on the other hand, was a man of the tent. He loved staying home close to mom. Esau was born first and, thus, was in line to inherit the family fortune through Isaac’s blessing. Yet, as a young man, he carelessly sold his right of inheritance to his brother, Jacob, for a measly bowl of pottage (thick vegetable soup). It later came back to bite him when Jacob tricked Isaac, who was old age and blind, into blessing him instead of Esau. In doing so, Jacob stood to inherit the family fortune and, in the eyes of God, became the lineage through which God would honor His promise unto Abraham, Jacob’s grandfather. As you might already know or might guess, Esau was not happy with Jacob’s treachery. Jacob was forced to flee as fast and as far he could go away from Esau. As Jacob was running from Esau, a very interesting thing happened to Jacob. We find that story in the Genesis 28. I am going to read the account because it has everything to do with the name of God for consideration this evening.

Genesis 28:10–22 KJV 1900

10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

The important thing to note is this. God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham with the very same covenant now to Jacob. It was quite obvious to Jacob that he had just met the God of his grandfather. It so impressed him that the next morning he immediately sets up altar (the pillar of stones), pours oil upon it, and names it Bethel which means “the house of God.”

Now, please keep all of that in mind. From there, much happens in the life of Jacob. He finds himself in his uncle’s house. His uncle, Laban, has a beautiful daughter. Jacob falls in love with her. He requests that his uncle give her to him as a wife. Laban says, “Yes.” However, Laban requires that Jacob work seven years for him and then he could marry Rachel. Jacob agrees. For seven long years, he works and God blesses. Unfortunately, Jacob’s treachery runs in the family. On the night of the wedding, the bride comes out covered in a veil. Jacob has no idea that under the veil is not Rachel, but her older sister, Leah. That night, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying the wrong girl. Jacob is furious. He demands that Laban make it right by giving him Rachel as a wife. Laban agrees. However, again, Laban requires Jacob to work another seven years for Rachel.

For our part of the story, we arrive at Genesis 33. By this time, Jacob has worked for Laban way past the required fourteen years. God blessed Jacob mightily.

By his wife Leah, he now has six sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and one daughter, Dinah.

By Rachel’s servant, Bilhah, he has two more sons, Dan and Naphtali.

By Leah’s servant, Zilpah, he has two more sons. They are Gad and Asher.

By Rachel, he has two sons - Joseph (at the time of our story) and later, Benjamin, of whom Rachel dies giving birth.

As we know, this all is very important. It is from these twelve sons that we later have the twelve tribes of Israel. We will talk more about that in a moment.

Genesis 33 is where we find the first mention of God as the El Elohe Israel. As I mentioned, God blessed Jacob mightily. He blessed him with sons and a daughter. Additionally, God blessed him with great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats. There was no doubt God’s hand was upon Jacob. For this reason, Jacob decided he could not longer work for his father-in-law. He needed to go back home. So Jacob loaded up the family and they headed back to face his brother Esau. Along the way, another interesting event takes place between Jacob and God.

Look at Genesis 32:22-32

Genesis 32:22–32 KJV 1900

22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

The key to our discussion from this passage is verse 28. What happens? God changes his name from Jacob to Israel. The name Jacob means “supplanter.” However, the name “Israel” means “God rules or reigns.” Thus, Israel literally implies that God is the supreme ruler of all Israel.

No, we come back to that in a minute. Once again we pick up the life story of Jacob. He wrestles with God. God names him Israel. Now, he must face Esau. A moment that Jacob dreaded with every ounce of his body. If you recall, the last thing out of Esau’s mouth was he would kill Jacob. Consequently, Jacob is thinking that Esau is going to kill him at first sight. To make a long story short, Esau’s reaction is just the opposite. Esau is delighted to see Jacob. All is forgiven. Jacob is relieved and amazed at God’s providence.

From there, Jacob moves his family to a place called Shalem. And, it is there, we find our name for this evening.

Genesis 33:19–20 KJV 1900

19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

As we already know, this is once again a compound name of God. It utilizes the His name “El” in several different ways. We have “El” which means God of power. We have “ELohe” which is a form of Elohim. Then, we have “IsraEL” which means God reigns or rules. Thus, if you put them all together, we have the God of Power, the God of Covenant, reigns over All.

Jacob’s life and his relationship with God brought him, Jacob, to the point where he recognized that God was a mighty, powerful God of Covenant who not only fulfills His promises, but will always reign over all Israel. He is “El Elohe Israel.”

Here are three things that speak to this name.

He is POWERFUL enough to overcome all circumstances.

He always PERFORMS all that He promises.

He is the POTENTATE of Israel.