The God Who Reveals His Name

Genesis 32:27-29 (ESV)
And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." [28] Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." [29] Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.
The Bible makes it clear that we don’t have the prerogative to name God. Jacob discovered in his struggle with the angel of the Lord that he could not manipulate God, as he had everyone else in his life. God met Jacob, put him in his place, wounded him and gave him a new name; Israel. Out of that encounter of grace, Jacob received a new identity and also by God’s mercy learned he is a God who makes Himself known. It is through God’s revelation in the Holy Bible that we discover the names that God in His grace revealed to His covenant people. Mediate on the names of God, which reveal aspects of His divine nature given in covenantal love.
The invitation to know God is always initiated from His side, never our own. In Christ, we know God as love, mercy and grace, but outside of Christ he is not “known.”
1. Elohim- The Mighty One – God in His Majesty -Gen. 1
2. Adonai – Lord and Master - Ex. 4:10
3. Yahweh – I am Who I Am – God’s covenantal name – Ex.3:14, Gen. 12:8
4. El Elyon- The Most High – Gen. 14:18
5. El Roi – The Mighty One Who Sees – Gen. 16:13
6. El Shaddai – Almighty – All Sufficient God – Gen. 17:1-20
7. El Olam – Everlasting – Gen. 21:33
8. Yahweh Yireh- The Lord will provide – Gen. 22:8
9. Yahweh Shalom- The Lord is peace – Jug. 6:24
10. Yahweh Raah – The Lord is my Shepherd - Ps. 23
11. Yahweh Elohim – The Lord the Mighty One – Judg. 5:3, Isa. 17:6
12. Kyrios – Lord, Master – Luke 1:46
13. Theos –God –– the one true God - Luke 1:47
14. Yeshua – The Lord Saves – Jesus Christ – Luke 1:31
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. The Westminster Confession ch. 7