El Shaddai. YHWH Yireh. YHWH Ra'ah YHWH

Transcription

1 El Shaddai YHWH Yireh YHWH YHWH Ra'ah

2 INTRODUCTION For those of you who remember grammar school, you were required to write one simple thing at the top corner of every sheet of paper, whether homework, test or a book report. Welcome To It had nothing to do with the subject matter of the assignment. It was rarely graded. But, it was ALWAYS required. We re talking about your name. It s a simple thing. You have it your whole life, but without it communication would come to a halt. It is an essential reference, but can be so much more. It s funny. Even after the exhausting effort to select a name for a child, parents quickly and creatively add to the list of labels for their children. You may be officially Jennifer, but perhaps your parents called you baby-doll or princess or sweetheart. Fast-forward to high school and you may have earned even more nicknames, ways that your friends like to refer to you maybe Pop n Lock, Quaker Oats or La Mujer. Count em up. You have been referred to by several aliases throughout your life, each one chosen for a different reason or to reveal a different part of your life. In a similar way, God has several names throughout scripture, some that He reveals about Himself and others that the people of God in different times, and under different circumstances, use to refer to Him and His character. In this series, we will look at a few of those names to understand more about God s revelation of Himself and how His people perceived Him through the ages past. PAG E 4 PAG E 1 0 PAG E 1 6 PAG E 2 2 WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4

3 WEEK 1 What's in a name? Have you ever taken the time to research what your name means? If not, google it together now.do you see that meaning reflected in your life? Tell the story behind a nickname that you earned. We all have personal names. If you have forgotten yours, think back to that time you broke a lamp, stole a candy bar, or lied about your grade on that test. Our mother never forgot our personal name, in fact, in situations such as these she often included our middle name just to ensure no one else would be confused and think she was talking to them, right? Though there isn t total agreement on meaning or pronunciation, four Hebrew characters make up God s personal name to the Israelites in English we would transliterate it to YHWH but in most English Bibles you will see LORD (in all capital letters). Think of this as a reference that is more specific than simply saying God, thus personalizing and differentiating Him from the gods of the surrounding nations. 4 5

4 Scripture Application 1 Read Genesis 2: What is the significance of Adam receiving the task of naming the animals in creation? 6 When someone claims to believe in GOD what could they mean? 2 Read Exodus 3: How does God want Moses to refer to Him in verse 14? What do you think it means/implies? How does the name get further clarified in verse 15 and what would this communicate to the people of Israel? 7 What questions could you ask to draw clarity to the GOD they believe in? 3 How does God reveal himself to Moses in Exodus 34:5-7? How do these descriptions challenge or inform your views of who God is? What stands out to you? 8 Looking at this week s scriptures, how might they help you communicate the personal and intimate characteristics of God to people today? 4 Read Jeremiah 32: What does God s name imply here? How is it tied to His reputation? 9 How does the knowledge of this personal name of God affect how you interact with people around you? 5 Read Genesis 17:3-8 and Genesis 32: Names in ancient history were often connected to a story or purpose. In these scriptures God makes promises to both Abram and Jacob. How did the renaming of Abram and Jacob point to the faithful attributes of God? Are there other narrative accounts in the Bible where you see this taking place? 6 7

5 Notes Prayer & 8 9

6 WEEK 2 What's in a name? Name a few public figures that have names that match what they do or how they act (e.g. The Rock or Richard the Lionheart ). Is it the person s original name? Why do you think the name might have been given? Someone tell the story of David and Abigail (or read it in 1 Samuel 25:1-28). Names are not always positive. What does the name Nabal mean (v. 25)? Sometimes names function as a simple reference, but other times they reveal something related to one s character. For example, if you stop to help a stranded motorist with a flat tire, the motorist may call you a hero or a savior. Names can be a revelation about a person. YHWH Ra ah or Rohi means God is my shepherd. A quick read of Psalm 23 will show what the author feels about the character of and relationship to this Shepherd

7 Scripture Read 2 Samuel 5:1-3. David, the most famous King of Israel, as he is being anointed King by the elders of Israel is called a shepherd and prince by God. What do these titles imply? Looking at Psalm 23 again, take note of the parts of the psalm that you struggle with most when you consider the Lord as YOUR shepherd. Where do you fail most? Have someone or the group pray for God s intervention in these areas. Shepherding is not something that we know in our modern world. Why does a shepherd need to take care of sheep? What are the qualities of sheep? Are there good sheep and bad sheep? 3 7 Read Psalm 23 out loud. David, a shepherd in his early life, is writing as if he is the sheep. What are the qualities that he seems to indicate are sheep-worthy? 4 5 Application Name some specific modern-day occupations that are like shepherds. Name the qualities that would make someone a good shepherd in that role. 8 Read the benediction in Hebrews 13: Sheep were used for food, clothing, and in Israel s sacrificial system to atone for sins of individuals and the nation. Consider the irony of a shepherd bleeding for his sheep, especially when this Shepherd has no need for all that the sheep offer in return. Is there an area of your life where you feel God inviting you to trust Him to provide, care and direct your life? What needs to take place to allow space for His shepherding? Who has God called you to shepherd at this point in your life (e.g. children, elderly parents, co-workers, etc.)? How are you doing? Read John 10:1-15. Jesus states that He is the door of the sheep and the Good Shepherd. What do these names reveal about Jesus purpose and character? How do they relate to the previous Bible references above? 12 13

8 Notes Prayer & 14 15

9 WEEK 3 What's in a name? Tell the story behind a nickname that you gave someone else like one of your children or a friend. What did you intend by using the name given? Read Hosea 1:6-8 in both of the following two translations if possible: NIV and ESV. What was God communicating through the names of Hosea s children? Sometimes names can give a feel for one s reputation and point to history. Think of figures such as Alexander the Great, Bloody Mary (Queen of Scots), or Vlad the Impaler. Though the name may not carry a wealth of information, it can speak of the renown (or infamy) of a person. In the Bible, there are many examples of names for God that do this. In Isaiah, it often speaks of the Holy One of Israel and in Jeremiah the Lord of Hosts but regardless of the book, these names carry a story, a memory of what God has done. One of the most powerful of these names is El Shaddai or what is sometimes translated God Almighty

10 Scripture Application 1 Discuss the word almighty. What does it mean and imply to those who hear it? Do we use it in conversation today? Why or why not? 6 What, if anything, is almighty in culture today? What are the implications of it carrying so much weight? Read Genesis 17. In Genesis 12, God promised that Abram would be the father of a great nation and that God would make his name great. Consider where we are in the story of Abram in Genesis 17. How old is Abram (cf. Gen 12:4 and Gen 17:1)? What has happened since Genesis 12? Has he had a child with Sarai? Why might God refer to Himself as God Almighty (El Shaddai) here? 2 7 How does the object that has the most power in one s life influence decisions and ultimate course of action? Read Genesis 28:1-4; 35:9-13. In these two passages God has revealed the continuation of his promises to Abraham through His grandson Jacob. How does God s promise to Jacob here show that God is faithful and all sufficient to keep His promises? How does it relate to the promise that God made to Abraham? 3 8 Imagine a light on a dimmer switch. Simply turning a knob or sliding a switch changes the amount of energy that is available to the light thereby increasing or reducing its brightness. If we, as Christians, are empowered by God himself through the Holy Spirit, what acts like a dimmer switch in your life? What reduces the amount of His gospel and missional power that is viewable to the surrounding culture? What can we do to change this? 4 There are 31 occurrences of Almighty (Shaddai) in the book of Job. Spend a few minutes discussing the basic storyline of Job with the group. Read God s answer to Job in chapter 40 out loud. Why do you think this would be the title used in Job? 5 The Book of Revelation at the end of the Bible contains the second most uses of the word Almighty (in the ESV). It is the story of how two kingdoms are at war and ultimately, one must prevail. Read Revelation 19:11-16 and 21: Why would the final passages of the Bible refer to God in this way? Does this encourage you or scare you? Why or why not? 18 19

11 Notes Prayer & 20 21

12 WEEK 4 What's in a name? Read Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-3. While Theophilus is likely a specific person s name, what else might this name communicate? Name the characteristics of one who provides. What makes a provider bad or good? All the functions of a name reference, revelation, and reputation come together to carry a lot of weight. A nickname given by a friend or a foe can bring with it remembrance, sometimes in the form of encouragement, and other times as an anchor around one s neck. We can see that these names of God carried significant weight in the memory of the people of God in the Bible and they still carry weight for us. As with all the names we have studied, YHWH Yirah or God provides can be seen not only as a life-granting reminder for the people of Israel, but also a pointer forward to the hope we find in Jesus

13 Scripture Application 1 Read Genesis 22:1-14. What had Abraham learned about YHWH up until this section? What was he trusting into the future? What would keep you from responding the same? 6 How is a person s reputation related to his or her name? 2 Read Ephesians 1: Discuss how God s faithfulness and provision can be found in Jesus (in His name, in fact). When did this faithfulness and provision begin in the biblical story? 7 Discuss a time when you weren t faithful to someone or someone wasn t faithful to you. How did it affect the relationship and your life? 3 How is faithfulness related to provision? 8 If we are called to exhibit the same characteristics of faithfulness and provision toward others, what stops us from doing it? For those that do exhibit these characteristics, what is it that motivates them? 4 Read Hebrews 9:12-15 and The author tells of how Jesus was the blood sacrifice to bring humanity into the new unending covenant with God. How do these verses reveal the promises, provision, and faithfulness of God? 9 5 In the Acts of the Apostles you can find close to thirty occurrences of name being used referring to Jesus (e.g. in his name or name of our Lord, etc.). Acts is about the actions of the early church after Jesus ascended to Heaven and how it grew. So why is this use of Jesus name important? 24 25

14 Notes Prayer & 26 27

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