"And God [Elohim Shama] heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."
Exodus 2:24
It is no secret that communication is key to any relationship. It is true for relationships here on earth, as well as for a Christian's relationship with the Lord. Praying to God is vital in ministering to others and in our own personal time and relationship with the Lord. Many Christian men and women have benefitted from the powerful nearness this fellowship with God brings into one's life.
We might pray because it is encouraged and commanded of God for us to pray, and because we simply desire to pray to God (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). And that is great!
But how would we pray for others, ourselves, and life's situations if we knew Who we were praying to?
Let's review some of the previous names of God we have already discussed :)
God is the Mighty Creator (Elohim)
We learned here that God's first name ever in the Bible is Elohim. God is the Mighty Creator Who spoke many wonderful and gorgeous things into existence, cared so much about humans that He went further than just speaking (even though He could have done just that). He formed mankind and breathed into them the breath of life, causing them to become a living soul. The Mighty Creator so delicately created male and female in His image. That is the kind of God I want to worship and pray to. The Elohim Who personally loves me.
"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)
God is a jealous God (El Kanna)
In this name of God, we learned that God is jealous for His people. If you have been around long enough to hear that God being jealous is not like man being jealous, you have heard correctly. A holy God's jealousy is out of righteous worthy motive and is for the good of His children; but man's jealousy is out of sinful motive for the good of self. Therefore, what exactly is God's holy jealousy? "God's holy jealousy is rooted in a desire to protect, provide, and bless...." (Hudson, 10). God loves us too much to (and does not want to) watch us choose to be in bondage to the very thing He has freed us from, which is sin and the pleasures of it (Romans 8:1-17). “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
God is the Ancient of Days (Atik Yomin)
In this name, we learned that "...God is ageless and timeless. He is perfectly wise. [He rightfully owns] the power and authority.... [this verse helps us] picture holiness.... Only this One existed before time began. He alone is Creator and Ruler and Judge of the universe. No one is older, more powerful, or more pure" (Hudson, 12). "We as humans are bound by time, but [Atik Yomin] stands outside time. He is the sovereign King of everything" (Hudson, 13).
Atik Yomin rules with a sovereignty that is wrapped in His love, wisdom, and holiness (Read 2 Peter 3). God will destroy and judge all evil all at once and restore the whole world to perfection, but only in His timing. He gives every soul everywhere the ability and choice to repent before it is too late. Until then, we as Christians can take extraordinary hope in the truths and provisions of our GOOD and GREAT God; and we must share that Truth with others who are lost in their sins and bound to an eternity apart from the Lord. It is our duty (Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 16:18-20).
God is the Renewer of Life (Shub Nephesh)
We learned in this name of God that Ruth once served a god who was a destroyer of life and a subduer of life; she served a god that was temperamental and hot-headed; she served a god who had no personal love for those who were his "children" or followers. She saw first-hand the neglect and divisiveness of Kemosh, and then she was introduced to the God named Shub Nephesh-- Renewer of life-- and that was the God she desired to serve.
"For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone." (Psalm 86:5, 8-10)
God is the Great God (El Haggadol)
We learned here that "To call someone 'great' is to say there is only one-- there has never been, nor will there ever be another..." (Hudson, 16). "God is great... because He owns the universe.... He graciously 'set His affection' on the Hebrew people [and fallen sinners like you and me] …. He's great because He cares about the helpless [He listens to their prayers!].... He alone does 'awesome wonders'.... He blesses undeserving people (Deuteronomy 10:14-22). What other god does such things?" (Hudson, 17)
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: Who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:18-22)
God is the Holy One (El Qadosh)
With this name, we learned that El Qadosh's holiness and purity "drives Him to seek and find us. In His perfection, God seeks to restore the world to its original and perfect state. It is God's purity that will not allow Him to discard us, though He has reason to. His holiness, rooted in love, compels Him to save. God's holiness means that God hates sin enough to deliver sinners from it." (Hudson, 19). James 5:16b says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." God will hear us when we confess sin, and when we are right with Him and others (see 1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 66:19-20).
Try, as you may, to approach a powerful entity or person on earth to freely speak to them, or ask them to use you and be glorified in you (while standing there in dirt and rags) and they will reject you. No prestigious person of power desires to accept the broken and filthy who are marred by sin, and allow them to become heirs alongside them.
No person, except the Holy God.
"...him [or her] that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37)
God is My/Your Provider (Jehovah-Jireh)
Lastly, we were reminded of God's name "Provider". I do not pretend to know why exactly God does not always provide right away, or why He works in another way when it comes to meeting our genuine needs. There are so many tangents, and every need is unique to one’s own situation. However, I am sure Jehovah-Jireh will meet that spiritual need, physical need, or both! He sees and knows each one of His children. Hagar even acknowledged God’s provision in Genesis 16:13 when she said, “...Thou God seest me...”
He sees and knows you! (Psalms 33:18, 34:15, and 139). Jehovah-Jireh seeks to provide for what He sees to be our greatest need first.
What would it be like to directly know Someone who holds prestige, power, and position?
What would it be like to speak to and know a sovereign Ruler who completely knows and mercifully and graciously loves you as His own?
What would it be like to personally know and be known by a great King Who protects, provides for, and cherishes you as His treasure and child?
What would it be like to know such a Supreme Being, and when you speak to Him you have His undivided attention?
How often would you speak to Someone like this, simply because you know Him and know that you have His ear?
Well, my friend, you do know Someone like that! And He is your God, the God of the Bible!
So, back to the question. How would we pray for others, ourselves, and life's situations if we knew more about our Heavenly Father?
And just so you remember, this Holy God (Jesus Christ) knew the necessity of prayer, so He even prayed for you! (John 17:20-26)
He knows the spiritual warfare that is ever present, but He is our Refuge (Psalm 46).
The following is a quote that emphasizes the extreme necessity of including God through our prayers in our daily lives and ministry:
The Devil laughs as he looks at the church today and says to himself, "You can have your Sunday schools and your young people's societies, your young men's Christian associations and your women's Christian temperance unions, your institutional churches and your industrial schools, and your boys' brigades, your grand choirs and your fine organs, your brilliant preachers and your revival efforts too, if you don't bring the power of Almighty God into them by earnest, persistent, believing mighty prayer."
- R.A. Torrey, p. 7
As you learn more about God's heart and character, may you continue to seek Him and ask as the disciples requested in Luke chapter eleven, "Lord, teach us to pray..."
He will always be ready and alert to the prayers of His children who are walking with Him or desiring to draw close to Him once again!
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:1-4)
God is Elohim Shama and He will hear your prayers!
Lord, teach me to pray. Heavenly Father, will you teach me more of Who you are when I pray?
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