Sample Text

Elohim

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

TO READ: Genesis 1:1-25

Used 2,500 times in the Old Testament, the name Elohim reveals the mighty strength of God. El is the Hebrew word for "strength" while "alah" or "oah" means "faithfulness." God's faithfulness begins afresh each day (Lamentations 3:23). God is always fresh, never stale. We can depend on it!

The Bible is not a scientific textbook, but a book about faith. It does not tell us how the heavens go, but how to go to heaven. It also tells us who makes the heavens go and who upholds them "by the mighty power of his command" (Hebrews 1:3).

Elohim meets us in Genesis. In the beginning of days and nights, flowers and trees, fish and mammals, he tells us by his name that he is the Creator of all. God is strong enough to make myriad universes and faithful enough to keep them all spinning safely at the right speed.

And what does this name mean to me? It gives me confidence. It tells me that if God made the world, he can make my world spin around with a little more order than I've managed to create in it! It gives me something--Someone--on whom I can depend. If God is perfect faithfulness, renewing his pledge to me morning by morning, I can go to sleep in peace evening by evening, Elohim can be known; Elohim can be trusted; Elohim is there!

Selected text from The One Year Book of Devotions for Women. Copyright (c)2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author(s)

Jill Briscoe has an active speaking and writing ministry that has taken her to many countries. She has written more than 40 books, including study guides, devotional material, poetry, and children’s books.

Jill is Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership. She serves on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc.

A native of Liverpool, England, Jill launched into youth evangelism after becoming a Christian at age 18. She married her husband, Stuart, in 1958, and since then they have ministered together through Telling the Truth media ministries at conferences and mission organizations around the world. They reside in suburban Milwaukee, WI, where Stuart has just completed 30 years of ministry as Senior Pastor of Elmbrook Church. Both Stuart and Jill now serve Elmbrook as Ministers-at-Large. They have three children, David, Judy, and Peter, and enjoy the blessing of thirteen grandchildren.

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