This last week I was able to spend four days on a yurt camping retreat in the Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Nestled up in the high altitudes was a beautiful valley complete with lake, no wifi, and definitely no cell service. I inserted some snippets below. The intended purpose of our visit was to train our new squad leaders to take over before me and my co-leader Emily leave for home in 13 days! As always God had a lot more in store for me during this time.
Recently I started a study led by one of the men on our squad. It takes you through the names of God. In the original Hebrew text, the word for God appears many different ways and holds many different meanings. Elohim, Jehovah (interchangeable for Yaweh), and Adonai are the first three names we walked through together. I encountered God through each name this last week.
When our Bible opens up in Genesis 1:1 its says, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the Heavens and the Earth.” This name for God means strong creator. One of my favorite things about this name is that Elohim is a plural word (allusion to the Trinity… absolutely!). Boy, have I encountered Elohim many times throughout my life, and so have you! With this new understanding however, the beauty around me this last week carried a whole new meaning. As if every piece of His beautiful scenery was singing His Glory. Elohim, the strong and powerful creator!
Honestly the pictures don’t do it justice.
The next name in our study was Jehovah (or Yaweh). A cool way to recognize when this name is being used, most translations will use LORD or GOD written in all caps! Moses experienced this name for God at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14-15. Moses is being told to return to the Israelites in Egypt. He asks God what he should say to the people when they ask, who sent you?
“God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Isreal: I AM has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, “say this to the people of Isreal: ‘Yaweh (or Jehovah depending on your translation), the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.'”
When we encounter God on a personal level, it’s as Jehovah. He is a God who reveals himself to us, and when He does this in scripture its almost always as Jehovah. Yaweh wants a relationship with us. The author of our study says that plenty of people believe in Elohim. All you have to do is observe the intricacies of science, or see an ocean at sunset to believe that a higher power must exist. However, Jehovah/Yaweh must be revealed to us. This is done by asking and seeking Him, we see this exibited through Moses in Exodus 33.
Before giving insight into how I encountered Yaweh this last week, I need to tell you about Adonai first. To me, this name for God is the embodiment of “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords.” This is also a plural word! The singular form Adon means master or ruler. We see this name appear over 400 times throughout scripture. This is how men of righteousness will often refer to God. In Genesis 15:2 we see Abram first use this word. In NLT it reads, “but Abram replied, ‘O Sovereign LORD (Adonai Jehovah).'” This chapter is where God tells Abram that he will have a son and the Abrahamic Covenant takes place.
As we read scripture, we witness that when these men of righteousness approach God as Adonai, they experience deeper levels of intimacy with Him. What’s the coolest part of all this, you ask?! In the Bible when people call Him Adonai, He always responds to them as Jehovah! When we submit to God as our Master and King, we always experience Yaweh in turn as He reveals more of Himself to us.
Maybe you’ve been feeling stuck lately in your relationship with God. Maybe submitting to God as master of your life is scary because you have past woundings. Try declaring him as Adonai and watch Him transform your relationship with Him. He’s not out to find slaves to work His fields in Heaven. He’s out to add children and co-heirs with Christ to His Kingdom. Calling Him King and Master is a beautiful thing.
Now onto my mountain top experience. Literally. This is the mountain I climbed to begin this encounter.
The views of rolling hills and a beautifully shaded blue lake were amazing. The hike. Strenuous. No trail, pick your direction and start walking. In similar fashion to past experiences, when I find myself in an unbelievably beautiful location I can’t help but yell out! A declaration of manliness. A release of dopamine.
On my first race I did this in Sri Lanka, overlooking the gorgeous ocean view from the cliffs we had just finished jumping from, into the unknown below. Then I had yelled out, “who am I.” I remember the encounter like crazy. It was my manistry month, we had been learning about sonship. I had the gut feeling, an inward declaration of the Spirit saying, “you are my son.”
This time however, as I shouted from the mountain top, “who am I,” nothing was recieved. Later that evening I sat by the lake.
I was simply talking to Jehovah as I experienced Elohim. Then I realized. I know who I am. He’s already told me. Why am I still asking?! I realized I needed to release my past insecurities to Him. I was still holding onto the question as if I still needed the answer. Needless to say, that evening I realized deeper intimacy and connection would no longer come by screaming, “who am I,” but rather by declaring who He is! So I stood up there on the lake side and yelled out “Adonai!!” Again the inward voice came, as if I could feel Yaweh say, “Good, never stop declaring My Majesty. Shout of Me from mountain tops. Declare My Glory from ocean sides. Release your questioning and walk away with My freedom.”
There ya have it! Funny, the experience happened at the end of my manisty time with the squad I’ve been leading. He’s not a God of coincidences at all. He’s Yaweh, Jehovah!
Also… I thought I would let yall in on the book we’ve been studying. It’s called The Power of God’s Names and it is written by Tony Evans. Worth checking out!
