Five Things The Name “God The Father” Means To The Believer

I. Names of God in The Old Testament

Elohim (used 2,370 times) Comes from the root for “strength” or “power”Comes from the root for “strength” or “power” It is plural and explained further in the trinityIt is plural and explained further in the trinity

El (used about 250 times) Simple form of ElohimSimple form of Elohim Often combined with other terms to describe GodOften combined with other terms to describe God Example: El Emet - The God of Truth Psalm 31:6Example: El Emet - The God of Truth Psalm 31:6

Jehovah (used about 6,823 times) Also YahwehAlso Yahweh From Exodus 3:14-15From Exodus 3:14-15 The covenant name of GodThe covenant name of God Spelled in all capitals in our English Bibles: LORDSpelled in all capitals in our English Bibles: LORD Called the Tetragrammaton, means “the four letters” YHVHCalled the Tetragrammaton, means “the four letters” YHVH The word means “to be” or “I Am Who I Am” and speaks of God’s eternal nature.The word means “to be” or “I Am Who I Am” and speaks of God’s eternal nature.

Adonai (used about 300 times) Means Lord or MasterMeans Lord or Master Spelled with the first letter only being capitalized in our English Bibles: LordSpelled with the first letter only being capitalized in our English Bibles: Lord When used in the OT in plural form it refers to God, in singular it refers to a human lord.When used in the OT in plural form it refers to God, in singular it refers to a human lord.

II. God as “The Father”

Jesus in the New Testament introduces a change in how we address the Creator. In the Old Testament “Lord” (Jehovah) was His covenant name, in the New Testament “Father” becomes a significant name of how believers are to relate to their God.

For example: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Matthew 6:9

Perhaps God is neither male or female but both. He took His perfect essence and placed half into men making them masculine and the other half into women making them famine. Thus a child needs both a father and mother to receive complete parenting.

The different roles… Fathers are focused on their children’s behaviorFathers are focused on their children’s behavior Mothers are focused on their children being nurturedMothers are focused on their children being nurtured

God however, wants to relate to us primarily as Father. It is not that mothering is unimportant but it is fundamental in our spiritual development to see God as absolute authority which is more fraternal than maternal.

A key psychological and spiritual dimension of human development is to learn what God is like from how our earthly father related to us in our child development years. If done correctly, a child should have an easy time knowing what God is like and following Him because the earthly father has modeled the heavenly father.

III. Five Things The Name “God The Father” Means To The Believer

1. Fraternal intimacy For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”Romans 8:15 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:6

Abba means “daddy.” It was not so much a title as much as a term of endearment. It is much like our “papa.” There is a longing for all persons to connect and bond with both their earthly father and heavenly Father. That is, to know and be known by, loved, desired, and appreciated.

2. Prayer And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Luke 11:1-2

The disciple asked Jesus not to teach them how to pray, but rather, “to pray.” Perhaps the change to the term “father” plays a significant role in our motivation to pray. Dennis Prager speaks of how the Jews and Christians can learn from each other. The Christians can learn the importance of the Sabbath rest. Jews can learn what spontaneous prayer is from Christians.

3. Discipline It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Hebrews 12:7 Read Hebrews 12:5-12

4. Care "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:30-33

As the Good Father, our Lord is more interested in your spiritual priorities than an easy life for you.

5. Not desert or forsake Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," Hebrews 13:5

Many children have experienced the lost or alienation of a father. Though earthly fathers can falter, our assurance rests in the knowledge that our heavenly father will always be there.