Elohim – The First Cause – 9 June 2023, Anno Domini

 

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N the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

 

             The fourth word of the Holy Bible in the Hebrew is Elohim (Eloy – heem). Elohim is the Hebrew word for God used in the first verse of the Book of Genesis – In the beginning, God (Elohim). Why is this term significant? As I have before commented, this name of God has particular meaning for the Triune nature of God. It is an exceptional name in that there is no equivalent in English. Elohim is a plural/singular – meaning more than one in One. It refers the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, all present and active in the Creation of the world, and all constituting the Godhead

 

            The Holy Spirit moved upon the face of the waters. . . .  The Holy Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son existing in eternity past from before the worlds were made. Our Pre-Incarnate Lord was likewise present with the Father at Creation. In fact, He acted as the executive power at the beginning of Creation: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. The Word is a perfect picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

 

            All three Persons of the Godhead are borne out in a close study of the use of the term ‘God,’ as referring to the Father and the Son in John 1. The WORD was with God (the Father and the Holy Spirit) and WAS God – all Three comprise the three-dimensional character of God as Three Persons in One. 

 

            We have an excellent example of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, working in their united action of power, in Psalm 62. We find Elohim active in the following seven areas of our life of faith mentioned in this Psalm:

 

Salvation

God (Elohim): from him cometh my salvation. It is the Father who places His chosen into the hands of the Son, and the Holy Spirit that draws that chosen vessel to Christ. Christ redeemed the elect through his sacrifice at Calvary – all Three had a particular role in drawing us to the bosom of God.

 

Our expectation

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (v 5) Our expectation from God is that we shall be shielded, comforted, and made worthy though the blood of our Lord.

 

Protection

In God is my salvation and my glory (v 7) God is our High Tower and our sure defense. We can glory only in Him as Elohim.

 

Power

We acquire from God our courage and strength to persevere under trying circumstances.  God is the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (v 7) Without God, we are nothing. We may be a Caesar or a Napoleon, but without God we are dross.

 

Safety

God will satisfy our every need. Our trust in Him is reciprocated by His love and care for us: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. (v 8)

 

Revelation

The Word of God is our Chart and Compass to direct our paths on the Seas of Life. God hath spoken. (v 11) God reveals His will to us through the Revelation of His Word. We have the fullness of His revelation to us revealed in the completed text of the Holy Bible. The Word and its revelation cannot be amended or added to by man. It is Holy.

 

Possession

Those of saving faith and grace are subject of God. They Belong to Him and to no other. They hear His Voice and He calls them by name. power belongeth unto God. (v 11) Not SOME power, but ALL power. He possesses all power and His elect are solely His and kept by that ultimate power.

 

            In each reference to God in the above Psalm, the Hebrew term ‘Elohim’ is used. The Love of God streams from the Godhead Undivided. The Mind and Purpose of God is wholly vested in the Trinity of God without division.

 

            We all understand our Lord Jesus Christ purchased our salvation on the cross; but we may forget God the Father paid an unbearable price as well in giving His only Begotten Son a ransom to those who were yet at enmity with God. The role of the Holy Spirit, too, is to make alive the dead sinner’s heart and draw him to the Throne of Mercy and Grace. (see Ephesians 2)

 

            Just as every particle of matter must occupy a three-dimensional space, so must the Godhead be defined by the Three Persons of the Godhead as One. But the dimensions of those Three are infinite in all directions encompassing all of Creation.