Why are there so many names for God? Why is it important that we know what they are and what they mean? Our finite, human brains cannot fully comprehend the majesty and glory of who God is. Yet through the various names of God, He chooses to reveal Himself to us so we can come to understand the many personal characteristics of God. His names reveal His power, authority, and holiness. The better we understand and know the names of God the more personal He becomes to us and as we pray, we can call on His name that corresponds with our need. Finally, because the Bible instructs us to honor, fear, and respect God and to not use His name in vain, we need to know exactly what His names are and what they mean. Today, we look at the name El-Kanna
Today’s Name: El Kanna
An encounter with El-Kanna:
After leading the nation of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, God brings them to Mount Sinai where He give Moses the Ten Commandments. While Moses is on the mountain with God, the people talk Aaron into making a golden calf for them to worship. As Moses comes down from the mountain and sees the calf, he becomes angry and throws down the stone tablet God had given him that had His commandments on them. God is ready to wipe the entire nation out, but Moses intercedes for them. God’s response was to not wipe them out, but He did inflict them with a plague.
Later, God tells Moses to cut two new tablets of stone and return to Him on the mountain. God reissues the ten commandments and establishes a covenant with the people that He would be their God and they would be His people if they would worship only Him. In Exodus 34:14 God tells them: “You are never to bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous by nature, is [El-Kanna] a jealous God.”
Jealousy vs. Envy: What’s the Difference
The word “jealousy” really gets a bad rap in today’s world. Relationships are often full of selfishness, distrust, and hostility. Some people will even use the words “jealous” and “envy” interchangeably. But the words have different meanings.
Jealousy comes into play when one’s position is being challenged. Such as the husband’s position when his wife is cheating on him. Or when your best friend decides she has a new best friend. Or when your co-worker underhandedly takes a promotion that had been slated to go to you.
Envy, on the other hand, involves covetousness. It’s wanting what someone else has – like the nice house or car or the very comfortable bank account. It could be a pair of shoes or a dress. It could even be wishing you had the body type like someone else.
What does El-Kanna look like?
So when we say God is a jealous God, what does that look like? El-Kanna’s jealousy is not envy. He is not envious of carved wooden statutes that Israel preferred over Him. After all, He is the one that made the wood they were carved from. Nor is He envious when we set up idols in our lives. Our idols may not be carved images, but most of us have have idols. Anything that we give more honor to than God becomes an idol. Some people make their career an idol. Others make money an idol. Sometimes its a hobby, or a spouse or children. We make all kinds of things more important to us than God and the minute we do, it becomes an idol. God is not envious of any of them.
Instead, God’s jealousy is rooted in justice, holiness, and perfect love. From Psalm 83:18, we learn that God’s jealousy is a healthy, passionate, burning devotion for us. He refuses to share His position, praise or glory with anything else in our lives. El-Kanna demands an exclusive love relationship with His people. In fact, in Deuteronomy 6:5, we learn we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Has El-Kanna showed you any idols in your life?
There are many things in our world that pull us away from the unfailing love of God. Take some time to day to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any idols you may have in your life. Surrender those to God and invite El-Kanna to return to the place of honor and glory that He deserves.
Father, we honor you as El-Kanna, our Jealous God. Reveal to us any way we have created an idol in our lives. Lord, may we love you and only you with all our heart, soul, and strength. Father, show us who You are as we discover and learn about your many names. Reveal to us why You are worthy of being called the One True, Living God. Teach us to unabashedly love you, respect Your name, and serve only You. Make your character known to us so we can live and walk in your image. Amen.
#namesofGod #ElKanna #WCM
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Today’s verse to meditate on:
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Have you learned this week’s memory verse?
Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
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That was such a great devotion. The web site is beautiful. However, when I tried to click on the space to learn more names, it wouldn’t allow me to do thst. Keep looking to the author & finisher of our faith.