GOD'S NIL: HIS NAME. HIS IMAGE. HIS LIKENESS. YOUR IDENTITY. SERIES (PART 2)

​What’s in a Name

In the first article of this series, I introduced the idea of God's NIL: His Name. His Image. His Likeness. Your Identity.

God’s Name tells us who He is. So, before we can understand who we are and who God is transforming us to become, we need to know the God whose image we bear.

Both of my children’s names are family names. 

While I named my children after family members, others choose names because of their meaning. In biblical times, as well as today, names can carry meaning, significance, family heritage, memories, hopes, and purpose. A name can tell a story about where we came from, what our parents valued, or what they hoped for our future. Names define us and define characteristics of who we are. God is no different.

We get to know God through His Word. When God reveals His Name, He isn't simply giving us a word to call Him. He is revealing something about who He is. We know that God is one God, but throughout Scripture, He reveals Himself to us in ways that help us understand His character, attributes, purposes, holiness and relationship with us. Scripture gives us beautiful examples of this:

Jehovah Jireh — The Lord Will Provide
Genesis 22:14; Philippians 4:19
God does not promise us financial wealth, an easy life, or a path free from suffering. But He does promise to provide what we truly need—including His presence, His forgiveness, and our inheritance in His kingdom.
When God tested Abraham, Abraham trusted Him and was willing to obey. At the moment Abraham needed it most, God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. And ultimately, God provided something far greater—the Savior we needed.

Knowing God as Jehovah Jireh reminds us that God sees what we cannot see, and we can trust Him to provide according to His perfect purpose.

Jehovah Rapha — The Lord Who Heals
Exodus 15:26; Matthew 8:16–17
Hospitals are crowded, doctors have waiting lists, and there always seems to be a new medication for another symptom. In this broken world, we all long for healing in some form.

After bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, God revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha—the Lord who heals. He promised the Israelites that if they listened to Him and followed His commands, He would protect them from the diseases He had brought upon the Egyptians.

But knowing God as Jehovah Rapha doesn't mean we will never experience sickness, suffering, or loss. Sometimes He heals our bodies in this life. Sometimes He heals our hearts and souls in the middle of our suffering. And one day, for those who belong to Christ, He will completely heal us in His presence. Knowing God as Jehovah Rapha reminds us that He is not distant from our pain. He is the God we can turn to in our sickness, suffering, and brokenness.

El Roi — The God Who Sees Me
Genesis 16:13; Luke 12:6–7
In a world where you can know someone's location, see pictures of them from anywhere, and even know what they ate for lunch, we live in a world of loneliness.

We show people what we want them to see, but deep down, you may wish they knew the “real” you.
God knows the real you. He sees you—not on an app, but completely. Hagar was cast away by Sarai, but God saw her. In response, she acknowledged Him as El Roi—the God Who Sees Me. God sees you more clearly than you see yourself. He sees your pain, your loneliness, your fears, and even the parts of yourself you try to hide. Knowing God as El Roi reminds us that we are never invisible to God.

These aren't simply names to memorize. Each one tells us something about God's character and gives us a reason to trust Him. The more we know God, the more we love Him.

Reading God's Word is our invitation to get to know Him. The more we read, the more we become immersed in His character and learn who He is. We begin to recognize His faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy, His power, and His love. And the more we know Him, the more His character becomes familiar to us. Then, when we are in need, hurting, or alone, we know who to call on—not because we have memorized a list of God's names, but because we know the God behind those names.

His Name tells us who He is. And knowing who He is teaches us where to turn.
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And this is where God's NIL begins.
Before we can understand who we are, we have to know whose we are.