1. God is called: El Elyon
God is El Elyon. He is your Sovereign.
I’m living with a rare and incurable disease. I’m often asked, “How do you do it? How come you don’t ask God why?” My first answer is always, “Because I believe in His Sovereignty. He’s in control of my life and He has the right as God Almighty to do with my life as He pleases.” Secondly, I say, “All the years I was healthy I worked on building a solid spiritual foundation with the Lord. I trust Him implicitly. I believe that His Word is true.” El Elyon is Sovereign over my life and I’m grateful.
2. God is called: Elohim Chayim
God is Elohim Chayim. He is the Living God.
“Today you will know that the living God is among you.” (Joshua 3:10)
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-7)
There is not one religion that exists other than Christianity that can boast of having a god that is alive and active in the lives of its followers. Every faith founder that once walked the earth is dead and gone. Every stone or wooden god that was worshiped never took a breath of air. You can only have a personal relationship with the living God—Elohim Chayim.
“Then the angel spoke to the women, Don’t be afraid! He said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.” (Matthew 28:5-6)
3. He is called: El Roi
God is El Roi. He sees you.
“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, You are the God who sees me. She also said, have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13)
Have you felt like God has forgotten you? Do you feel like you’re wading through the muck and mire of life and nobody even knows or cares?
Hagar probably experienced similar feelings. Unloved as a servant she became pregnant by her master and then mistreated by her mistress. She finally ran away only to be found by an angel of the LORD who was no doubt eager to tell her that God had heard her cry of distress (Genesis 16).
El Roi sees you and He cares.
4. God is called: Jehovah Ro’i
God is Jehovah Ro’i. He is your Shepherd.
“The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
The English countryside is breathtaking. The green pastures and grazing sheep are picturesque. It’s easy to imagine what it must have been like to walk the earth while shepherds watched their flocks at night. Sheep without a shepherd quickly go astray.
They may even lose their way.
What about you?
Do you find yourself feeling alone? Like you’re wandering around in life with no guidance or direction, kind of like a sheep without a shepherd? Well, Jesus is your good shepherd and He is always with you and always watching over you. And even when you don’t think you can continue to go on in your own strength, He is there to carry you through when you need Him most. He is your Jehovah Ro’i.
5. He is called: Jehovah Nissi
God is Jehovah Nissi. He is my banner.
“Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means ‘the LORD is my banner’).
“Banners were not foreign to the people of Israel and were often attached to bare poles or standards. The banner represented deliverance and salvation. When Moses held up his hands, the people of Israel relied on God for their assurance and their victory. Though God is called Yahweh Nissi only once in the Bible, His work is seen throughout Scripture. We learn that the Lord will fight for us, the battle is His, and He is a God of deliverances.” (Catherine Martin/Trusting in the Names of God, p.180-181)
Are you in a desperate situation in your life? Are you struggling and can’t seem to break free from what is holding you back? Call on Jehovah-nissi and He will watch over you and cover you and protect you.
