“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
We can learn a great deal about God’s will for us through His names. His names reveal His character. Throughout the scriptures at different times, God was revealed by His names. When he provided the ram in the thicket for Abraham, Abraham called him “Jehovah Jireh, the Lord My Provider”. The scriptures say that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore, we can see that if the Lord is called “My Provider” in the Old Testament, then He is still our provider now. This is who He is. When the Israelites were in the desert, all they had to do was say God’s Name and be reminded that He is their provider. Instead, each time they came against a different challenge; whether it appeared there was no food, or water, (or whatever the challenge), they doubted that God would provide for their needs. They continued to question His very character. Yet all they had to do was say His name “Jehova Jireh” to know that He will provide because that is who He is. That is His character.
Phillipians 4:19:”But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Let’s look at a few other names of God:
“Jehovah Rapha – The Lord my Healer”. His name says He is our healer. He is God that heals us. It’s His very character! Exodus 15:26b – “…for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”
Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Psalm 103: 1-3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
“Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner”. Banner is another term for Victory. He is our victory. Whatever we face in life, He has already provided the victory!
Exodus 17:12-15 “But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:”
1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6 “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.”
We are made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. All things have passed away, behold all things have been made new. We are now a new creature and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
“Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There” Ezekial 48:35: “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.”
Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
John 14:15-17 “ If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
“Jehovah Raah – The Lord My Shepherd” – Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
“Jehovah Mekoddishkem – “The Lord Who Sanctifies You” Exodus 31:3: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.”
Hebrews 10:9-10
“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
“El Olam – The Everlasting God” – Genesis 21:33: “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
“Jehova Shalom – The Lord is Peace” – Judges 6:23-24: “And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“Jehova Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts”: 1 Samuel 1:3 “And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.”
Psalm 46:11: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Isaiah 44:6: “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isaiah 47:4: “As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”
The list goes on and on. Each name describes a different aspect of God’s character, which we see reveled on earth through Jesus. This is why Jesus says in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
God has always been interested in blessing us as he said in 3 John:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Therefore, the last name of God I would like to mention is the one that sums up all the others. It is God’s will that we live an abundant, healthy prosperous life. I believe this is made most clear by the name of God as listed in 1 John 4:8. The name listed here sums up all the names given from beginning to end in the scriptures:
“GOD IS LOVE” – 1 John 4:8b : 1 John 3:16 “Hereby we perceive the love of God, because He laid down His life for us…”
John 3:16: “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
When we get the revelation of how much God loves us, and not only does He love us but He actually IS LOVE; then we realize there is nothing that can separate us from His love. He wants the best for us because He loves us! He wants us healed, healthy, prosperous and enjoying life because HE IS THAT GOOD! He’s a Good Father! He’s not only a Father full of love for us, HE IS LOVE! Nothing is too hard for God, because nothing is too hard for love! LOVE NEVER FAILS! (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Romans 8:31-39
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
See also: Ephesians 1, Ephesians 3, 1 John
