El Olam is the Hebrew name for God who has no beginning and no end. He is the Everlasting God or the Eternal God. The first place in the Bible that we discover this name is when Abraham calls on the Everlasting God while planting a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, just after he signed a treaty with Abimelech.
El Olam: The Everlasting God Or The Eternal God.
After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God. Genesis 21:32-33.
Pronouncing The Name: El o-LAM.
This is Day 5 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Understanding the Name Of God- El Olam:
To gain an understanding of this name of God, read the folowing Bible verses from Genesis:
Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech
22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”
24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.
26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”
27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty. 28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?”
30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 31 Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.
32 After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.[a] 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time. Genesis 21:22-34.
Abraham called out to El Olam-the Everlasting God as he planted a tamerisk tree in Beersheba. He was calling out to God in worship of the One who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
Here is another verse that describes this everlasting characteristic of God:
“There is no one like the God of Israel.
He rides across the heavens to help you,
across the skies in majestic splendor.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
and his everlasting arms are under you.
He drives out the enemy before you;
he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’ Deuteronomy 33:26-27.
Have you been praying for a very long time for a change in your circumstances, healing of a friend or family member or something else?
The eternal God is your refuge. His everlasting arms are beneath you, holding you, protecting you, and guiding you. It is difficult to comprehend this eternal nature of God but when we invite the One who is beyond time and space, into our space within our lives, then we position ourselves to experience El Olam as a refuge for all eternity.
The everlasting God does not faint or grow weary. When we call out to Him, He renews our strength and revives our hope.
The Bible pulls back the curtain of eternity in the book of Revelation to give us a glimpse of what forever looks like:
Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:8.
This is what is happening right now around the throne of heaven. Day and night the angels never cease to worship God who is everlasting and eternal. One day at the appointed time, we will join in with them too!
It is difficult to grasp this concept of our everlasting and eternal God. That is where faith comes in. Sometimes you just have to accept things even when you don't understand them. The fact is the Everlasting, Eternal God loves each of us and has a plan for our lives. Sometimes in the midst of our problems we can lose sight of who God is to us. Just remember that God is a dwelling place for you, that His everlasting arms are outstretched and He invites you to join His eternal purposes.
God's eternal purpose for our lives is that we live in His presence, bear the fruit of His Spirit, and be a light in this dark world to those who do not yet know Him.
Here is a most wonderful Bible verse that describes God as El Olam and it will greatly encourage you!
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4.
El Olam in Hebrew:
Olam is a Hebrew word that occurs more than four hundred times in the Hebrew scriptures. It is translated as "eternal," "everlasting," "forever," "lasting," "ever," or "ancient". It refers to the fullness of the experience of time or space. The name El Olam (El o-HAM) meaning "Eternal God" or "Everlasting God," appears only four times. The word is applied to God and His laws, promises, covenant, and kingdom.
Applying the name of God, El Olam to your life:
How does knowing God as El Olam affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is El Olam to you?
How does knowing God as El Olam impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as El Olam?
Praying the Name Of God, El Olam:
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation, it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life.
Let's Pray:
El Olam, my Everlasting Father, thank you for loving me beyond measure. You are my refuge, a safe place for me. Help me to comprehend who you are and to trust that you have good plans for my life. Help me in my unbeliet and increase my faith. Amen.
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage.
Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Yahweh-Yireh-The Lord Will Provide.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
