HCC Weekly - April 13th, 2026

The God of Many Names

Pastor Rachael

Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV - For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

A name is a major part of someone’s identity. The Israelites were surrounded by people who believed in many gods. These gods and goddesses exhibited all the human vices, but supposedly had much greater power. These deities were invoked easily and often.

Over time, belief in one God becomes widely accepted by the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. God is even called “the Name,” which should never be taken in vain or used lightly (Exodus 20:7,). When God gives someone a new name (for example, Abram/Abraham or Sarai/Sarah), that person’s identity is forever changed.

When Moses encounters the burning bush (Exodus 3:4-22), God commands Moses to return to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses then demands to know God’s name and is told to say, “I AM sent me to you.” Moses should tell the Israelites that he has been sent by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

When Moses came down Mt. Sinai and found the people worshiping a golden calf, he became very discouraged and asked to see God’s glory. God explained: “I will make all my beauty pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce my name, ‘LORD’; I who show favors to whom I will, I who grant mercy to whom I will” (Exodus 33:19).

Eventually, when Jewish people would read the Scriptures aloud at home or during worship, they would substitute the word Adonai (“Lord”) for the expression YHWH (Yahweh)

But, Adonai and Yahweh are not the only names for God that we see in the Scriptures.

Elohim - Genesis 1:1

Adonai - Genesis 15:2

El Shaddai - Genesis 17:1

El Elyon (Most High God) - Genesis 14:18

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)- Genesis 22:14

Our God has many names, which one will you call to today?