Advent- December 2
Listen: O Come All Ye Faithful
God gave us His various names to help us understand who He is.
Just like the words He spoke to create light established a scientific fact that does not waver or change based on our lack of understanding, His names reveal a fact about who He is, and that promise doesn’t change or end. It keeps going forth and will not stop until it has accomplished its purpose.
He said I am Jehovah-Rapha, God your Healer, Jehovah-Nissi, God your Protector, Jehovah-Shalom, God your Peace, etc. God wanted us to know who He was and did not hide Himself from us. He first told us and then showed us who He is through His Son.
What is your need today? God wants to be for you what you need.
Take time to pray, thanking God for His blessings and for answering that provision (even before the need is met).
For Adults:
The Prologue in John begins like Genesis: “In the beginning was.” In Genesis, the next word is “God.” In John, it is “The Word.”
The Hebrew word “God” in Genesis 1:1 is “Elohim.” Elohim is the name for the Triune Godhead working together.
John was written in Greek. The Greek word for “Word” in John 1:1 is logos. Logos refers to the spoken word. John was making a claim that Jesus was the very One who spoke the world into existence; “And God said, let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3
Recently, I did a study on Jesus in the Old Testament, which I want to share with you briefly.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
Alpha and Omega is the Greek letter word for our A and Z. In Hebrew, in which all of the Old Testament is written, it is Aleph and Tav.
The Aleph-Tav symbol is scattered throughout the Hebrew Old Testament nine thousand six hundred twelve times (found only in the Paleo-Hebrew and the blocked letter Modern Hebrew scriptures). The Aleph-Tav is Jesus’ signature. Because our English translations cannot translate these symbols, many people don’t know that Jesus is everywhere in the Old Testament. Through the Aleph-Tav, he is mentioned ten times more than He is mentioned in the New Testament. He is concealed in the Old and revealed in the New. Remember that the Bible was written by thirty authors who lived thousands of years apart. There is no way they could have collaborated to sprinkle almost ten thousand Aleph-Tav’s in particular places unless they were instructed by God himself (Holy Spirit), who gave each a revelation of the Son. God is the one who put the signs there to show us the Son.
Every letter in Hebrew has a picture association. For example, the Aleph picture symbol is the head of an animal. The Tav picture is of a cross that symbolizes the strength of a covenant. In other words, the Aleph-Tav, literally means, “I am the sacrifice slain on the cross.”
Let’s take a look at where the Aleph-Tav is located in scripture. It can be found:
Preceding people’s names. God’s covenanted people had the Aleph-Tav added after they were circumcised. Christ-types like Moses, Joseph, and David had the Aleph-Tav at first mention.
Preceding God’s creation. In the Hebrew verse above (Genesis 1:1), we find the Aleph Tav in the center. There are three letters, each to the right and left of Aleph-Tav. Jesus is peripheral to everything! Jesus is also THE Tree of Life, placed within the midst (peripheral) of the Garden of Eden. Jesus was the Word who spoke, “Light be!” as He was there in the beginning.
Preceded offerings to God. Every sacrifice of an animal made to God as atonement for sin foreshadows Christ’s death. Before Christ, animal sacrifice atoned for sin temporarily. Atonement by Jesus was permanent. The Aleph-Tav preceded these animal sacrifices and each element in the Temple.
Preceding sickness, disease, plagues, and curses of Elohim's enemies, such as the ten plagues in Egypt. Jesus was the One who executed judgment on Egypt.
To understand how the Godhead functions and why the Aleph-Tav is placed where it is, it might be helpful to view the roles of the Godhead (Elohim) as governmental:
The Father (YHWH/Jehovah/ LORD) legislates.
The Son (Aleph-Tav, Adonai, Yeshua) is the executor.
The Holy Spirit (Ruach) administrates.
* More notes on this below
Foreshadowing.
Such as when Abraham went up the mountain to obey God’s command to sacrifice his Son. The Aleph-Tav is heavy in this story as it foreshadows His death on the cross.
*Notes about the names of God:
-YHWH (also called Jehovah or LORD- all caps) is considered the holiest name of God. The Jewish people, even today, won’t pronounce it because they believe it is too sacred to utter; that is why there are no vowels to make it impossible to say. They say, “The name.” They call it the Tetragrammaton because tetra means four. Four (tetra) letters spell YHWH: Yod. Hei. Vav. Hei. Just as each Hebrew letter has a picture association, it also has a word association. Yod= lamb, Hei = behold, Vav= hand.
YHWH= “Lamb behold, Hand behold” The Father’s name declares, “Behold my Son.”
Every time God revealed a new aspect of His nature, He revealed a double-barreled name, for example, Jehovah-Jireh= YHWH, your Provider. But taking what we know about God’s name, He was speaking of His Son. He was saying: “Behold my Son. He is your Provision.
Jehovah-Rapha: YHWH, your Healer = “Behold, my Son. He is your Healer.”
Jehovah- Nissi: YHWH, your Protector = “Behold, my Son. He is your Protector.”
Jehovah- Shalom: YHWH, your Peace. = “Behold, my Son. He is your Peace.”
Before man was created, YHWH (the Father) was not mentioned; it was always Elohim. YHWH is always mentioned as showing mercy; Elohim when He judges. Jesus only ever called God Father.
-The Son is also mentioned as Adonai or “my Lord,” such as when Abraham addressed the three men who came to him in the tent. Abraham only worshipped one of the men and called Him “my Lord.” (Angels do not receive worship.) Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Yeshua means “YHWH saves.” The Son’s name points to the Father.
-The Holy Spirit (RUACH) Hebrew word meaning is “nail, body, woman, nail, protect.” I find it interesting that the function of the Holy Spirit mentioned in scripture (helper, comforter, teacher) is very similar to a woman’s function. (Those are my thoughts alone- take it or leave it)
Today’s reading should help you see what John desired you to see: The Son. Jesus is not just a nice thought; He is everything. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. When we behold Jesus, we are transformed. - an Excerpt from a Study on the Gospel of John