Who Are You?

Recently I was reading a book that mentioned how the Lord God is named by His character qualities.[i] Below are the names of God in the Bible. Some are mentioned many times (Yahweh occurs 6,519 times) and others less or not that often or only once.[ii]

     El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

     El Elyon (The Most High God)

     Adonai (Lord, Master)

     Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)

     Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

     Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)

     Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)

     Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

     Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)

     Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)

     El Olam (The Everlasting God)

     Elohim (God)

     Qanna (Jealous)

     Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

     Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace)

    Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

Each of God's names tell us about Him, about his personality, about who He is. In Kyle Idleman's book he asked a question which made me smile and cringe at the same time.  "Wouldn't it be interesting if people were not only called by their given names but also by their most dominant personality traits?" I couldn't help but think of a name that my father often called my mother....the great manipulator. That name was not too flattering but we could not deny that mom was always manipulating things to her advantage even if it was for a good reason. What would your name be if you were to be called by your most dominant personality trait? Would it be a name that honored God?

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[i] Gods at War by Kyle Idleman

[ii] Blue Letter Bible