S8 Episode #4- Elohim
THE ONE WITH Jes + ELOHIM
This week on The Collected Podcast, Jes is teaching Part 14 of our Names of God series, diving deep into the powerful and foundational name—ELOHIM, The Creator God and Ruler of All Things. As the very first name used for God in Scripture, Elohim reveals His unmatched sovereignty, creative power, and covenant faithfulness. In this episode, we explore the historical and theological significance of Genesis 1, contrasting the biblical creation account with ancient myths to highlight the beauty, order, and intentionality of God’s design. We reflect on how our view of God shapes our lives, and how Elohim’s character—revealed through creation, covenant, and Psalm 68—offers comfort, strength, and purpose. Whether you’re new to this series or have journeyed with us since El Olam in Season 4, this episode invites you to rediscover your value and identity in the One who formed the universe and still speaks life today.
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SHOW NOTES
It’s part 14 of our Names of God series! This week we are learning about ELOHIM, The Creator God, Ruler of All Things. This is the first name of God to be used in the Bible and it is a powerful reminder of God’s power, might and sovereignty over all things.
In this series, we have been highlighting different names and character attributes of The Lord. Understanding who God is and who we are in Him are vital parts of walking in freedom and remaining rooting in who we are created to be. When I began this series back in Season 4 Episode 5, I didn’t have a concrete plan laid out. I had stumbled upon some fascinating information about El Olam– the Everlasting God and I decided to share what I learned on the podcast. I enjoyed researching El Olam so much that I decided to learn more about El Roi and then El Shaddai. We have jumped all over the Old Testament with no particular rhyme or reason beyond what I felt God leading me to next (which is plenty of reason for me) so now in Part 14, we find ourselves finally studying the fourth word in the Bible and our very first introduction to God.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In Genesis 1:1-2, the Bible opens with the words, “In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”
Before we dig into the name of Elohim, I want to start with some historical context on the book of Genesis. It is widely believed to have been written by Moses sometime between 1450-1410 B.C., at a time in Israel’s history when they were preparing to enter the land that God had promised to their ancestors in the Abrahamic Covenant. So Moses is writing to the 2nd generation Israelites whose parents fled Egypt and then wandered in the desert for 40 years due to their disbelief.
The land that the Israelites are about to enter is filled with foreigners who worshipped many gods such as Baal, Molech, Marduk, Ashtoreth, and Anath. At this time in the Ancient Near East there were many other creation stories that were already circulating, but they were typically violent, brutal and inaccurate.
For example, the Babylonians believed that their god ripped apart another god and formed the earth with the parts of that god. Then this god, Marduk, created humans to make life easier for the gods. This is a creation out of violence and chaos and led to a performance-based religion rooted in the idea that the gods in some way need humans– that they are not all-sufficient on their own.
Moses is combating this worldview by showing us the nature of the One True God. The account in Genesis shows us God does not need humans, but rather He shaped the world for humankind. Genesis chapters 2-3 tell of our place and significance and of God’s care and provision for us.
God provides a “paradise”
God designates trees as sources for food
God gives Adam the gift of a companion
In general, all creation stories seek to answer the big question of “Why do we exist?”
Babylon: you are a product of the gods to make their life easier
Modern Myth: You are a product of random chance in a purposeless universe
Bible: You are a personal creation of The Lord, who cares for you and placed you in an orderly and good creation as his representative ruler.
The Bible begins with the creation story not because Moses was necessarily a history buff, but because understanding God’s creation of the world gives us a clear picture of what God is like. And it is vital to understand who God is because how people view their god will ultimately determine how they act.
This applies to whoever or whatever is the “god” of your life. If money is your god, then your thoughts, actions and decisions will reflect that. It will impact the way you spend your time, how generous you are and what you value. But if ELOHIM is your God and you believe that you are fully loved and cared for by the sovereign creator of the universe, then that love is what should shape how you spend your time, money and energy.
BIBLICAL CREATION
Moses’ account of creation reads like poetry, following a very rhythmic pattern. Here are the first two days of creation to give you a taste of the way that it is structured:
“Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.”
This pattern continues for the 6 days of creation, climaxing with the creation of man. Here is a quick refresher of the 7 days of creation:
Day 1: light and limitation of darkness
Day 2: sky and separate water
Day 3: dry land, vegetation
Day 4: lights created- sun, moon, stars
Day 5: birds and sea creatures
Day 6: Animals and Man
Day 7: God rested
As you look at the days, you see that day 1 and 4 are similar, days 2 and 5 are similar, and days 3 and 6 are similar. (expound on this)
This chapter is like the thesis statement of the Bible. From the very first sentences, we learn four important truths: (1) There is a God, (2) He exists outside of time and space as we understand it, (3) He created a world of order and beauty, and (4) He has a special interest in mankind.
Through Genesis 1, Moses is defending the True God against all the other gods that were out there at the time. It is essentially an argument against the polytheism that the Israelites had been accustomed to in Egypt.
The order and beauty in the story shows that Israel’s God is one of order and beauty. The order also shows that mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. This is significant because other religions of the time believed that mankind was lower than parasites on the earth. They held no value for human life… this is why they were so violent and corrupt. And yet, the Word of God tells us that the world was designed and created with us in mind, to find pleasure and enjoyment in!
So all humans have immense value to God. This world was not an accident. You are not an accident. God created every part of this world and every part of you with intention and purpose.
I think it is interesting to note here that in Genesis chapter 1, Moses uses the name Elohim for God– the Creator God, Ruler of All Things, but in chapters 2-3 when humans enter the scene, Moses shifts to calling God, “Yahweh”, which we read as “LORD” in all capital letters. It is not enough to know that God is the Sovereign Creator. The Israelites, and you and I, must also believe that Yahweh cares and is a relational God. He is not aloof and distant from our lives. He is near to us and wants to be known.
I also think that Moses wanted to show that God’s relationship with humans is relational and different from that of all the rest of creation. Then, in chapter 3, when humans fall and God is STILL Yahweh, this shows that God is still relational with us and still pursues us in the midst of our sin. What we did does not change who God is. Let me say that again, whatever you have done in your life does NOT change who God is and the immense care and love that He has for you.
ELOHIM
In the first 2 chapters of Genesis alone, the name of Elohim is used 35 times in connection with God’s creative power and over 2,300 times through the Bible (Lockyer, pg. 5). It is the name of Elohim that is used in Genesis 17:3-8 when God confirms His covenant relationship with Abram.
I love how Herbert Lockyer describes this in his book All the Divine Names and Titles of God. He says, “What comfort for our heart can be found in this first great name of God… God is ever ready to put forth His power on our behalf. Elohim signifies a covenant relationship which He is ever faithful to keep” (Lockyer, p.7).
PSALM 68
Psalm 68 uses Elohim 26 times and paints an incredible picture of the Most High God!
Let’s see what we can learn about Elohim from this Psalm. As I read through this list of the various ways that David describes our Creator, see which ones speak to your heart today.
Elohim is:
Father to the fatherless
Defender of widows
He places the lonely in families
He sets us free and fill us with joy
He makes the rebellious live in a sun-schorched land
He led his people out of Egypt (bondage)
He sends abundant rain to refresh the weary land
He gives a bountiful harvest and provides for the needs of His people
He will live forever
He lives among us
He is our Savior
He carried us in His arms
He rescues us from death
He will have victory over His enemies
He is a God of power, majesty and strength and He gives power and strength to His people.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Elohim is not just the God of Genesis or of the Psalms—He is the God of today. The same power that formed galaxies is at work in your story. The same voice that spoke light into existence is speaking hope into your heart. The same God that calmed the seas can calm the storms you face. The same God that had victory over death can breathe new life into your situation.
NEXT STEPS
Here are a few action steps to help you dip deeper this week!
Write down what stood out most about God as Creator and Ruler. How does this shape your view of yourself and your purpose?
Spend time slowly reading through the creation account, noticing the rhythm, order, and intentionality. Ask: What does this reveal about God’s character?
Take a walk and notice the beauty around you. Let it remind you of the Creator’s intentional design. While you walk, thank God for the things you appreciate about His creation.
Thank you, as always, for listening! Please remember that everything we do is funded by those who benefit from our ministry. Our ministry a 501(c)3, so your contribution is tax-deductible.
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The Collected Podcast is a production of Collected Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping disciples of Jesus discover and live from their true identity in Christ, recognize and walk in their divine purpose within the Kingdom of God, and experience growth in their capacity for mature, healthy relationships.
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes French and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.