Can You Trust "The Name?"

Some diligent bloggers will blog months in advance, giving themselves a three-to-six-month backlog of material ready to roll at any time. Others, like me, blog in real time. I usually have the coming Monday’s post completed by Wednesday. My approach is certainly a riskier approach because there are times life throws us a curve ball, and we’re not always ready for that. This week has that scenario center stage for Alean and me. Today is Wednesday, and I am just now getting to this article.

I don’t know how the scenario mentioned above is going to play out, but that will become clear today, or perhaps tomorrow, and I will explain it all then. But … I can assure you it moistens our eyes with tears and makes us feel nauseous in the pit of our stomachs.

The Name

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
– Psalm 9:9-10, ESV

There is something poetically beautiful about that phrase, “those who know your name.” It is not a matter of literally knowing the name. There is a much broader sense wherein one’s name is representative of everything about them. When my eldest son graduated high school and headed off to the university, one thing I told him is, “Never forget that you are Sheridan Gray.” It was a simple statement but I packed it with a much grander meaning. So it is with the name of the LORD.

I AM

One of the most well-known references to God comes from Moses asking outright, “What’s your name? When Pharaoh asks the name of the God who is sending me, what do I tell him?” And God responded, telling Moses, “I AM that I AM. Tell Pharaoh I AM has sent you.” Modern translations represent this Tetragrammaton (YHWH) as upper-case LORD, though no one really knows exactly how YHWH is pronounced. It is a profound statement of God’s self-sustaining, eternal existence. God IS, and that provides us with a foundation of the greatest solidity. We can take our stand right there! God IS!

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
– Psalm 20:1, ESV

Elohim

One of the most common references to God in the Hebrew text is Elohim, carrying the meaning of “supreme ones” or “mighty ones.” The fascinating thing about this “name” is that technically it is plural, but we typically find it with a singular verbal or pronominal usage, meaning, we have a plural title referring to a single deity. To me, this speaks of the mystery of the Trinity – three in one – one God of three persons. It’s mind-boggling, but it is something in which I find great comfort. My God is too complex, too awe-inspiring to wrap my mind around.

El Shaddai

Even among non-scholars, one of the more commonly known names for God is El Shaddai, typically translated God Almighty. The name was popularized in 1981 by the Michael Card song of the same name. You can listen to it here. The name speaks to God’s omnipotent power.

El Elyon

This name is God Most High. There is none greater. This is the ultimate superlative describing the reality that there is none greater than our God.

For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.
– Psalm 97:9, ESV

Adonai

Just as with Elohim, Adonai, a term of majesty, is plural, but it references one deity. Over time, the term became so holy to Orthodox Jews that they refuse to speak it outside of its usage in prayer. Rather, they say, “The Name.”

El Rohi

When Hagar became pregnant by Abram, the barren Sarai was embittered and had Hagar driven from the camp. Hagar fled to the desert to die there with her son, Ishmael, but instead she ran into an angel of the Lord, who promised her that her son would form a great nation. It is then that Hagar realized that she is never alone and praised El Rohi, the God who sees me.

Pater

Pater is Greek for Father. It’s most renowned usage is in conjunction with Abba; Abba ho Pater, Abba Father.

Abba

Abba is an Aramaic term, also for Father. Jesus used both terms (Abba and Pater) in Mark 14:36, when he asked the Father to remove the cup of his pending beating and crucifixion from him. The apostle Paul used it in his letter to the Romans to describe how we are heirs with Christ.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
– Romans 8:15 20:1, ESV

Kyrios

Kyrios is a term that is all over your Bible, particularly if we consider the Septuagint¹ where we find Kyrios roughly 7,000 times to convey the concept of Lord or Master.

Yeshua

Even Jesus Christ, Yeshua Christos, is a name/title rife with meaning. Yeshua/Jesus meaning salvation. Christos/Christ meaning anointed.

Trust

The list of “names” we just considered is not exhaustive by any means, but it is enough to convey the idea that God’s name(s) is rich with meaning, and when we understand who God is, we find it easy to trust him. Never will he leave us. Never will he forsake us.² He is our refuge.³

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.
– Psalm 37:25, ESV

The Backstory

Sebastien, our precious kitty, has been terribly ill for the past week to ten days, vomiting and blood coming out both ends. On Tuesday, the day I usually write my post for the week, I was working at the office when Alean called me, clearly upset. She informed me that Sebastian could not walk. His hind legs were not working, and he was dragging them behind him, howling as he did so.

I drove home (15 miles) much faster than I should have, and met Alean at the veterinarian’s office. After about an hour exam, he didn’t offer us much hope. The unconfirmed diagnosis was that Sebastian had “thrown a clot” resulting in a bilateral thrombus that restricted blood flow to the legs. The incongruity, however, was that Sebastien’s feet were not cold. Though every sign pointed to this condition, the warm feet indicated otherwise. He was not officially advising us, but the strong indication was we needed to “put Sebastien down.” He was suffering horribly.

Just as we were ready to tell the vet that we were at peace with the decision to let Sebastien go, he said there was a very slight chance that it could be one other spinal virus and that we could treat for that and give it a few days, and if we needed to put him down, they would get us in right away. This was a total long-shot, but we jumped at the opportunity to try something, anything, even a one-percent chance to bring back our kitty.

It is an amazing thing how these pets can worm their way into our hearts. This was a gut-wrenching decision, but we brought Sebastien home, prayed continuously, had friends (he likes) over to sit with him and pray for him. Family and other friends have been praying to Abba Father for mercy to Sebastien and by extension to us. We forced him to take fluids and liquified food. We worked to get him to take his medications. He went in for subcutaneous injections of fluid to keep him hydrated. The bills mounted and the tears flowed. Sebastien fought.

The Outcome

It is Monday morning. This is blog posting day. This is the day I share with you whatever it is that has been on my heart and mind for the week. This week, of course, it is Sebastien. God is merciful. God is our refuge.

Sebastien, who less than a week ago was unable to walk, who suffered paralysis in his legs, whose tail hung from him with no movement as a useless appendage, and who seemingly had lost his “meow” has made a near-full recovery. We exclaim our celebration, “He moved his leg! Did you see that? He moved it.” Now, he stands. He walks. He even meows, pleading to be let outside to go play. It’s too soon. He needs to be a little stronger.

1. The Septuagint is the earliest known translation of the Hebrew (Old Testament) scriptures to Greek. Greek was the most widespread language at the time. Septuagint means “seventy.” Legend holds that around 250-285 BC, six translators from each of the twelve tribes of Israel collaborated to create this translation.
2. Hebrews 13:5
3. Psalm 46:1-2