Names of God #1: Elohim

Elohim – God Almighty – God of Gods, Majestic; Creator

Open

Playdough on each table to make something you are thankful that God created for you

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

                Elohim 1^st name used for God in the Bible            

                                Only name used from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3 – 35 times!

                                Used 2606 times in the Hebrew OT (NASB version…varies)

                He wants us right away to understand His sovereignty and Power

1^st – His Power

                Story of Scientists wanted to prove to God they are as powerful because they have figured out how to make man out of dirt – 1^st thing started doing was make a pile with the dirt and God said “Wait! First you have to make your own dirt”

                **Everything we make comes from something God already created. HE created everything from NOTHING

                3 Things we know about God (see worksheet)

a.       Transcendent – Distinct – from His Creation

a.       In Time – God created the beginning of Time

b.      He is eternal

c.       In Space – God created the heavens and the earth

d.      He is outside the universe

e.      In Matter – He created everything from something

f.        We live in a physical world

g.       These all mean God exists in a different dimension than us – that is why we cannot understand Him

h.      Illustrate for kids…a worm trying to function in school?

b.      Omnipresent – God is everywhere all the time

a.       Jeremiah 23:23-24: Am I Elohim who is only close at hand?” says the LORD. No, I am an Elohim far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and the earth?” says the LORD.

b.      God fills time, space and matter - *Illustration for the kids – atmosphere

c.       Personal – God is in relationship with us

a.       Genesis 3:8-9 “They heard the sound of the Lord Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord Elohim among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord Elohim called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’.”

b.      God walked with Adam and Eve…He spoke to them…He felt emotions in His relationship with them

2^nd – His Sovereignty – He is Majestic

Elohim – a Plural noun with a singular verb…First glimpse of the Trinity

                Pretzel

a.       Take play dough and make a pretzel

b.      Put on paper and label the parts of the Trinity

c.       Elohim is like a Pretzel – 3 beings connected by the same dough

d.      NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (not names)

e.      Genesis 1:26 “Then Elohim said, ‘Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness…’”

f.        Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our Gods is one Jehovah.”  (There are these gods and they is one god)

Progress of Revelation (adults worksheet – kids color or help find and read verses)

a.       Genesis 1:2 - Spirit

b.      John 1:1 - Word

c.       John 1:14 – Flesh

d.      Col 1:16 – Jesus created the world…connects Jesus to God, to no time, space or matter

Take Homes

                Kids – binoculars and treasure hunt list

                Adults – Blue Letter Bible printout