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Finding 'Ah-Ha' Moments in the Bible

  • Eva Marie Everson Contributing Writer
  • Published Feb 08, 2006
Finding 'Ah-Ha' Moments in the Bible

The Holy Bible—the timeless Word of God—is filled with what I like to call “Ah-ha! Moments;” moments that catch us by surprise. Moments when the Holy Spirit stirs something inside and…somehow…miraculously…the brain and the spirit come together deep in our hearts and says, “Did you see that? Did you catch it? This is an ah-ha moment.”

 

I love ah-ha moments. I expect them literally every time I read from the Word. You see, God is not like man when it comes to what He says. Or, I should say, not like me. He doesn’t waste His words. So every book, every chapter, every verse, every word of His Word has been spoken and then written for a purpose.

 

Would you like to explore one of those ah-ha moments with me now?

 

Genesis 1:1

 

In the beginning God…

 

“Knowing the name of a man,” I heard someone say recently, “is knowing the essence of that person.”

 

It is the same with God. His name, or names, are vital to who He is at any given moment. As Moses—a man with whom God spoke as a man speaks to his friend[i]--began penning the creation story, he introduces God as “Elohim” (pronounced el-o-heem’).

 

In the beginning Elohim

 

Elohim (sometimes written Elohiym) is a name for God used 2, 250 times (second only to Yahweh/Jehovah, which appears 6,828 times) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is written as “Theos.” It is used to show identity as well as identification (sort of like saying, “Dr. Everson”). In the book of Psalms it is used nearly 700 times.

 

Elohim is a plural intensive word with a singular meaning. A word which is plural intensive has “the plural ending but the verbs and adjectives that accompany it are singular…[it] denotes a singular object or individual but adds a connotation of greatness.[ii]” Does this mean that Elohim is many gods? No. Rather, the name Elohim gives our first peek into the Trinity of God.

 

 

In this first half of the first sentence of the Bible, and in this one name, we see the move and work of more than a singular god.

 

Getting to the Root of it

 

The root word for Elohim is “El,” which means “power…God in the widest sense. God in a father figure[iii].” In His name—Elohim—is the fullness of His power.

 

It took power to create the world. More specifically, it took spoken power. Think about it. How many times did Jesus Himself tell those who would listen that if they would just “speak…” then thus and such would happen.

 

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."[iv]

 

The Gentile centurion who came to Jesus and whose servant was ill understood the power of God’s spoken word.

 

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." [v]

 

Three at Work

 

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

 

Here, God is referred to by His Spirit. Ruwach (Hebrew, pronounced roo-akh). Ruwach is a title which shows the energy of life. As we read the second verse of God’s Book, we can view it in this way: Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Energy of Life was hovering over the waters.

 

Can you not feel the power within that verse? God’s Spirit brings God’s power! Power to create. To create something out of nothing at all.

 

How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures… When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:24, 30)

 

Even as God speaks the world into existence we see there is more than one within the One we call God. “Let us make man in our image[vi].”

 

John’s gospel message begins with an explanation: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

It doesn’t get any plainer than that. (And, can you imagine Jesus and John walking and talking along the way? John stops to admire a plant or a mountain or the clouds in the sky. Jesus says to him, “You like that, do you? Let me tell you about the day the world was created….”)

 

But What was the Point?

 

Our God is a jealous God[vii]. He makes no bones about it. He loves—dearly loves—all He has created and desires that that creation love Him in return. Adore Him. Glorify Him.

 

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.[viii]

 

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
      To him be the glory forever! Amen.
[ix]

 

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for you created all things,
      and by your will they were created
      and have their being."
[x]

 

 

An Ah-ha Moment

 

We do not serve a weenie-god. We serve a powerful God. A God whose Spirit breathes and brings forth life. A God whose Spirit moves and, in doing so, creates something out of nothing. A God who desires intimacy with His creation so much, we can call Him “Father.” A God who loves us so much, He came to walk among us, die among us, and—by that same Holy Spirit power—rise again.

 

If God can do all that, what do you not trust Him with today?

 

Award-winning national speaker Eva Marie Everson is a recent graduate of Andersonville Theological Seminary. Her work includes the just released Sex, Lies, and the Media (Cook) and The Potluck Club (Baker/Revell) She can be contacted for comments or for speaking engagement bookings at www.evamarieeverson.com


[i] Exodus 33:11

[ii] http://karaites-usa.org/Studies_On/elohim_plural_or_singular_(2).htm

[iii] http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/BakersEvangelicalDictionary/bed.cgi?number=T298

[iv] Matthew 17:20

[v] Matthew 8:8,9

[vi] Genesis 1:26

[vii] Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Ex 34:14)

[viii] Col. 1:16

[ix]  Ro 11:36

[x]  Rev 4:11