El Olam

This week in Bible Study we learned about El Olam, the Everlasting* God. We know from what we have studied this year that the first mention of anything in scripture is significant and sheds light on future occurrences. The LORD is first revealed as the Everlasting God in Genesis 21:33: “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God”.  In September we learned that the name El or Elohim means strong or mighty Creator.  The Hebrew word olam means time or age and has roots in the Hebrew word that means hidden, underscoring the mysterious nature of God. 

What I Learned from the Homework

Before continuing, please read Genesis 21:22-34.  In the beginning of this passage Abraham and Abimelechek are arguing over a well at Beersheba.  The passage ends with the declaration by Abraham that the LORD is the Everlasting God.  These two things would seem to be unrelated but as we studied we learned of the connection.

In Genesis 17:1-8 God confirmed His covenant with Abraham. There are two specific promises that God had made to Abraham. The first promise: "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.” Genesis 17:4.  The second promise: “The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:8.

1) God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations.

2) God promised Abraham land.

In this passage is the following verse: “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you”  Genesis 17:7.

It is key to notice that the two things God had promised Abraham in Genesis 17 were part of His everlasting covenant.  We had learned in the homework that the first part of the covenant, which promised Abraham would be the father of many nations, had been fulfilled by the birth of Isaac.  Now let’s get back to the second part of the everlasting covenant.  This brings us to Abraham’s and Abimelech’s encounter at the well in Beersheba in Genesis 21.  As you read through these verses you will see that what had actually happened in this passage of scripture was that Abraham had bought the land that the well was on from Abimelech. That well was in Beersheba. Beersheba was in the Promised Land. And there you have it!  The second part of the everlasting covenant was fulfilled.  Abraham had the land!!  So why did Abraham plant the tree and call on the Everlasting God? Abraham had known that the LORD was an everlasting God but by his experience he now REALLY knew THE Everlasting God!!

The homework pointed out that Abraham had to go through certain circumstance to truly know the LORD, The Everlasting God, in a personal way. God will work in our lives in a similar fashion.   I will ask you what the homework asked us. Are you going through a confusing season that you sense God might be causing you to know something about Him in a deeper, more personal way?  Be encouraged! The joy of knowing Him more awaits you on the other side!

What I Learned in Class

Sandee began her lesson by helping us wrap our minds around the significance of God as our Everlasting God.  Some of the English translations of God’s Hebrew name El Olam  are: The God of Eternity, The Eternal God,  God of All Time, God of the Ages, The Unchangeable God,  and The God of Perpetuity. These names speak of the mysterious, infinite nature of our LORD.

As Sandee taught on Abraham’s time at the well at Beersheba found in Genesis 17, one of her focus points stemmed from the key verse as translated in the New Living Translation of the Bible: “Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.” Genesis  21:33, NLT.

Abraham worshiped the LORD, the Everlasting God at Beersheba. The question she asked us…what exactly is worship?

When we think of worship, what might come to mind is singing hymns or modern songs of praise about the LORD during a Sunday morning church service. Sandee showed us that there is so much more to worship than that.

• Worship is a conversation between man and God.
• Worship is our heart’s expression of love, adoration, and praise to God. It is accompanied by an attitude and acknowledgement of His supremacy and Lordship in our lives.
• Worship is the ability to magnify God with our whole being – our bodies, souls, and spirits.
• Worship is extravagant love and extreme obedience.

Sandee gave us five points that helped to define what worshipping the LORD looks like in our own lives:

1) Worship is an intimate experience that brings us close to the heart of God. The basis of this experience is relationship. This relationship is a two way street.  It is about giving and receiving.

2) Worship is not a musical activity but a function of the heart. This is depicted so beautifully in Luke 7:“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them” (Luke 7:37-38).  She poured out her heart in worship at the feet of Jesus.

3) The true worshiper will worship even under emotionally devastating circumstances. Job is an example of that.  We are all familiar with the catastrophic losses he suffered but this is what he declared: “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:20-21).  Despite his losses, Job affirmed God’s sovereignty.

4) We learn worship by doing it. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD” Psalm 89:15.

5) Worship is no longer bound to a certain time or place but a function of the spirit of man reaching out to the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks" John 4:23.

Wrapping it All Up

We know that the world in which we live is temporary. It is passing away. The homework pointed to verse 3:11 of Ecclesiastes: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end”. The LORD is eternal and He has set that eternity in our hearts. While we are on the earth there will always be a longing for something more. That something more is eternity. The homework encourages us to take heart, and, when life is overwhelming, remember this is not all there is-- there is eternally more!!!

“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.” Psalm 106:48

*The most commonly-used versions of the Bible we read from use the words ‘everlasting’ and ‘eternal’. For the sake of consistency, I am going to use ‘everlasting’.