Book Nook: The Names of God

The Names of God: His Character Revealed, Melissa Spoelstra’s seventh women’s Bible study, published in August. In this six-week study, women explore the many names of God found in the Bible: Elohim, El Elyon, Yahweh, Abba, Jesus, Messiah, Holy Spirit, and so many more. 

As women study the names of God, their ideas about God will become more grounded in what His names tell them, and thus more personal, allowing a greater trust in Him to share the details of their lives. Whether having walked with God for many years or just starting out in a relationship with Him, by the end of this study women will not only know more about God but will know Him better—because through the discovery of God’s names, they will discover Him!  

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more about the book.

Why did you create this study?

I created this study because I wanted to share with women the power of God’s names. The first women’s Bible study I ever completed was during my senior year of high school. It was Kay Arthur’s study called Lord, I Want to Know You. It highlighted names of God I’d never heard before. I learned that El Roi revealed Himself to Hagar as the God Who Sees. El Shaddai is the All-Sufficient One who has shown Himself as more than enough in my life. Yahweh is the Self-Existent One who is the great I AM. These and many more names brought me hope and encouragement during the ups and downs of college, moves, marriage, parenting, friendships and being married to a pastor. In moments when I felt mistreated, the Lord would remind me that He was El Roi- the God who Sees. So many times the Lord’s names drew me closer to Him and helped me to trust Him through the storms of life. I wanted to highlight those names again so that more women could be encouraged to draw near to the Lord through His names.

Why is it so important to understand the names of God? How can this Bible study help us gain greater understanding of who God is and His work in our lives?

Through His names, God reveals His character. The more we know Him, the more we can trust Him. We also often struggle with feeling powerless at times. Finances run low, relationships can be complicated, and parenting can be challenging. In Isaiah 52:6 we read, “But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” Through God’s names, we can experience God’s power in very tangible ways in our own lives. In moments when our faith is shaken, we can hold tightly to God’s names and remind ourselves who He is. The more we behold Him, the more we can believe Him. He is powerful, faithful, and loving. His names remind us that He is our Provider, Healer, Savior and so much more.