Your first reaction to this title, Adonai, is probably to recoil in disgust or distress, quite possibly because of the context of slavery not only in the US, but in other countries where even today people are held in slavery and treated abominably. But would you, for just a moment, put away all your preconceptions of what it means to be the Lord—the master—and what it means to be a slave? Let the Bible inform you of what God is like as a Lord, and what He sees as His responsibility to those He rules.
“In the beginning, God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1
Elohim is the first name God reveals for Himself in the Bible. It is based on a root word that means “strong” or “mighty”. The same word is used other times in the Bible to refer to pagan gods, to angelic beings, or to human rulers. A few examples:
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The Lord’s Prayer has been repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times throughout the lifetime of many Christians. But, if you’re anything like me, you haven’t spent much time really…
According to the Apostles’ Creed, Jesus is “God’s only Son.” At this point some of you may be saying, “But wait a minute! The Bible says that anyone who believes…
One of the ways God has chosen to reveal Himself to us is through the idea of fatherhood. Of course, every analogy—even this one—breaks down at some point, so it’s important not to press them too far.
The first four words of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in God,” contain nothing that makes Christianity different from most other religions. In fact, even demons would have no issue with them: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19).
God is our perfect heavenly Father. His wisdom regarding fatherhood offer tremendous help for today’s fathers. Scripture offers four clear ways fathers impact the lives of their children. Wisdom: A…
When we think of our earthly fathers, what emotions come to mind? For some, our first thoughts are love or kindness. For others, our first emotion is absence. Still others…
Contents B. Compound Names with EL in the Old Testament 1. El-Shaddai. Gen. 17:1 Translated “Almighty God” it shows God as all-sufficient, making fruitful; Gen. 28:3-4, and purifying through trial;…