There are many ways God reveals Himself to us, especially through His Word, the Bible. We can read about His actions. God also gives commands and instructions to us. And He tells us the consequences of disobeying Him. He tells us about His innate qualities—for instance, that He is love, and He is just. From reading the Bible we can also understand some of His attributes—God is all-knowing, all-powerful, possesses all knowledge and is complete in and of Himself. He is not limited by space and time. He is ever-present in all places and at all times at once. God is truly unlimited.
God also tells us about Himself through His names. The Bible records some 900 names and titles of God in total.[1] However, there are about 30 names assigned to God that specific to Him alone, and give us insight into His nature.[2] God commands us to call Him by Name (John 20:17), to treat His Name as holy (Matthew 6:9) and to not use His Name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Clearly God ascribes great importance to His Names, and we can know more about Him through the meaning of each. These include:
Abba: Father, Genesis 4:6, Matthew 6:9
Adonai: Lord Master, Ezekiel 16:8.
Alpha and Omega: The Beginning and the End, John 1
Attiyq Youm: The Ancient of Days, Isaiah 46:9=10
Cristos: The Anointed One, 1 John 4:2
El Chay: Living God, Psalm 84:2, Jeremiah 10:5
El Chuwl: The God Who Gave You Birth, Isaiah 43:1-3
El Deah: The God of Knowledge, Romans 11:34
El Elyon: The God Most High, Colossians 1:16-17
El Gibhor: The Mighty God, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16
El Olam: The Everlasting God
El Roi: The God Who Sees
El Shaddai: God Almighty
Elohim: The Creator
Immanuel: God With Us, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6
Jehovah (Yahweh): The Self-Existent One
Johovah-Bore: The Lord Creator
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Our Provider
Johovah-M’Kaddesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord Our Banner
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Our Healer
Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord Our Shepherd
Jehovah-Sabbaoth: The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Is Peace
Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord Is There
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness
Jehovah-Tsuri: The Lord Our Rock
Jesus: The Lord Saves
Logos: The Word
Ma’on: Our Dwelling Place
Messiah: The Anointed One
Not named. In today’s American culture we often connect material wealth and success with our relationship to God. It is God Who brings us prosperity, if we will only ask Him for it. This teaching does not align with Scripture. Though God does refer to Himself as One Who Provides (Jehovah-Jireh), the word Jireh here refers to the location where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, and God provided a lamb for a sacrifice. This is not material provision that God is providing, but a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. We know this sacrifice as Jesus Christ.
God’s names are to make us aware of His nature and attributes, and not at all centered on our wants and desires. Because God is not named as success, does He ever provide us success as we understand it, and should this be among our expectations from God? The short answer is no, God does not present His Name anywhere in Scripture in this manner. God does want us to be successful, but by no definition that our culture and context would define as success. Though we often use phrases like, God wants to bless you, the way that blessing is defined is key. As is the purpose for which we receive God’s blessings.
We see in many other religions the idea of a fortune deity, or a god associated with fortune, luck or wealth.[3] This is one manner in which a religion can revolved around its adherents. Instead, God is about Himself, and Christianity is immersed in the Lordship of Christ, under the direction of the Father, in concert with the Spirit. God does indeed want to bless us, and He does this by giving us the most valuable thing He possibly can—Himself.
The pursuit of holiness. One of the key facets of the Christian faith is God’s desire for us to separate ourselves for His will, ways and purposes. The Bible reminds us that we are consecrated to God—that is, made for a sacred or divine purpose (Joshua 3:5). Because there is nothing and no One higher than God, then God can have no other interest greater than Himself. God’s Names bear witness to this fact—El Shaddai, Elohim, Jehovah (God Almighty, The Creator, The Self-Existent One). God’s blessings on us and grace toward us are ultimately for His own glory. As a byproduct of our relationship with God we get to share in His blessings as we accomplish His commands.
God does not desire our success, outside of accomplishing His will. What He does desire of us is holiness, or to be set apart from the world for His own goals. God’s Names set Him apart from all other gods, and set us apart from all other religious people. God is Abba, Adonai, Alpha, Omega, Attiyq Youm, Cristos (Father, Lord Master, The Beginning and the End, The Ancient of Days, The Annointed One). God tells us not to pursue success, but rather to pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14). This will by necessity separate us from an unholy world.
What the Names of God teach us is a God-centered creation with a God-driven mandate, a commitment to the Divine for His glory alone. This flies in the face of our own goals, dreams and desires. In a world that seeks individual success, prosperity and fulfillment, God’s Name calls us to a much higher and noble purpose. When we pause to know God by Name, we’ll find His character revealed to us. God invites us to give up our own wish list in life and work and to pursue Him fully. There is no greater success we can achieve than to know and do the will of Almighty God.
Authenticity is the factor in your character that helps you live and lead as your true self. Authenticity helps you to make good decisions, influence others, maintain consistent values, convey a sense of purpose, and have a strong self-awareness.