The Presence Of God In Our Names

This is an experience every tradition or culture bears testimony of.

In one of the Hebrew Bible’s most famous scenes, the prophet Isaiah enters the House of the Lord and hears the seraphim calling out: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3).

It is obvious to us that God pervades the whole world. He is found in every living being, but did you know that God is also found in many personal names? An experience Isaiah later learnt in life as I share a little with us today.

A Name with the Power to Protect
Every parent wants the best for their newborn baby. Since the dawn of time parents have tried to safeguard their children by requesting help from God above.

In ancient Israel, it was very common for parents to give their child a name that included one of the two names of the God of Israel: YHWH (יהוה) or El (אל).

Israelites and as I have stated from the beginning other traditions believed that God’s name would protect the child from danger throughout their life. It's a fact that many may attest to.

Unpacking the Meaning of Names,
Many of the most common names we use today are ancient Hebrew names that contain the name of the God of Israel. Here are a few examples:

Michael: Mikhael Mi (מי) + Ka-El (כאל) - “Who is like God?”

Gabriel: Gavriel - Gavar (גבר) + El (אל) - “God is mighty”

Elizabeth: Elisheva - Eli (אלי) + Sheva (שבע) - "Pledged to my God"

Zachary: Zekhariah - Zechar (זכר) + Yah (יה) – “The Lord has remembered”

John: Yokhanan – Yah (יו) + Hanan (חנן) – “The Lord is gracious”

Joseph: Yosef – Yo (יו) + Sef (סף) – “The Lord will increase”

Your own tradition may have similar names pre- Christ era. A confirmation of God's prehistoric stance.

Get Beneath the Surface of the Bible
An abundance of common names used around the world today are mini-Hebrew prayers.

Discovering the power of God hiding within these commonplace names is truly riveting. You will be amazed at how much Scripture you will understand once you can read Hebrew. Out it came the interpretation of Scriptures into many languages.

This could be the reasons we find disparities into Bible studies. It's man made and does not come from God. Some have interpretation which suits the tenets of their private churches or organisations. Ushering in things, titles, etc which they please to add.