This only begotten Son was with the Father before time began and became to workman, the author and finisher of our faith. What we have learned from the creation story, is that God was not involved in simply creation the sun, moon, stars and the seasons of the year. Our salvation was also on the forefront of God’s creation plans. By this we have learned that our salvation was not "an after-thought" with God. I like how Paul explained the truth that he sent to the Ephesian churches saying: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, (that is before time began) that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us acceptable in the beloved." Our salvation was well planned and coordinated with the heavenly beings around the throne of God long before time began. Taken at face value and understood as written, it would seem that God (with many names throughout the Old Testament) is the central Figure throughout the Old Testament and Christ Jesus encapsulates the New Testament, along with a new covenant of never ending life for his redeemed people out of all nations upon the earth.

What is worth knowing and understanding, is that each of God’s name in the Old Testament signifies his nature, especially as it relates to us. This truth will show how God intended to meet our needs and to give us assurance without the preaching of the gospel as we know it, accompanied by never ending bible classes. His name is an expression and testimony of his person, and his relationship with us as his people. As we shall see, During Old Testament times, God was known by many names, and each name had a specific relevance to people’s needs.

Let us begin this phase of our study where God instructed Moses to return to Egypt to bring his people out of bondage. "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. Thus, shalt thou say unto the children of Israel." Exodus 3:14,15. This specific quote can be translated to mean: "I WILL BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE." This brings to mind a song we used to sing regularly in our worship services in Norfolk, Virginia. "So good, so good X4—he has been so good to me. He’s my mother and my father, and I won’t take it back—X4. He’s my doctor and my lawyer, and I won’t take it back—X4, he has been so good to me.

The apostle Peter added an encouraging thought to help in building out faith. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1^st Peter 5:7. Let us refer to a few of God’s names in the Old Testament and what they mean. We begin with the name EL SHAD-DI. It means LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. It also means THE BREASTED ONE—not such as a teenage breast—but A MOTHER’S BREAST—ONE THAT IS CAPABLE OF GIVING MILK. In other words, God is saying to Abraham: "I am your strong mother’s breast, pull on me and be thou perfect: Because every time you pull on me, you will be pulling perfection.

Next, we have the name EL ELYONE, meaning the most High God. When Melchizedek met Abraham back in about the year B.C. 1913, we read: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God (EL ELYONE) possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." Genesis 14:18-20. It is of vital importance for us to understand God’s nature, or characteristic behand each name that he used at any given time. The importance being alluded to is shown and demonstrated in the New Testament, especially as events involved the man Christ Jesus, being called the Son of the Highest by Gabriel. Luke 1:32.

El Shad-di refers to God as the law giver, who demands justice and righteousness. On the other hand, El Elyone is the merciful one. When the woman taken in adultery was brought to Jesus, the people referred to the law of Moses—in other words, they referred to El Shad-di—the strict one—the one who demands justice. But the people also knew that Jesus was called the son of the Highest, or El Elyone the Merciful One. Jesus was now faced with the task of exerting justice as required by the strict God as the law giver who demands justice, while at the same time he must show mercy being the Son of the merciful God called El Elyone. We can remember how Jesus dealt with that situation!

Another of God’s ancient names is ADONAI meaning Lord, Master. Next is YAH-WEH: LORD, JEHOVAH, who became the God of the Jews. The next name that God used in olden times is JEHOVAH NISSI (jeh-ho-vaw-nis-see; meaning THE LORD MY BANNER. Next is JEHAVAH-RAAH meaning: THE LORD MY SHEPHERD... next...JEHOVAH-RAAH…THE LORD THAT HEALS. There are several more names that we can include in this study, and we will mention just two more because they are well known and well used in religious circles. They are JEHOVAH JIREH…The Lord will provide…JEHOVAH SHALOM…THE LORD IS PEACE…JEHOVAH SABAOTH…THE LORD OF HOSTS.

All of these names and their meanings bring us back to the case of Moses when God told him to say to the children of Israel I AM THAT I AM, or, I WILL BE WHAT THEY WANT ME TO BE." When we take all of this information from the storehouse of religious concepts, and apply them to our daily lives, we quickly realize that all limits are removed, and God becomes as big and as faithful as we allow him to be. One vital point we need to add at this juncture: and that is the fact that all Christian growth is "personal." No matter how vibrant and wholesome biblical truths are, their benefits are obtained upon personal search, personal hunger, and personal application.

It is like sitting at a table that contains all manner of healthy delectable foods. The next thing needed for one to enjoy the meal, is a good appetite. Jesus made it plain, when he said: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5: 6. This suggest that we must go beyond just going through the motion of "religiousness" observing rites and rituals that cannot generate life in those who participate, in the absence of the power of the resurrected Lord.

The scriptures and their meanings shown above serve to put on display before our very eyes, all that God IS and WILL BE on our behalf. We used to sing a little chorus years ago that said: "He is my everything, he is my all; he is my everything both great and small. He gave his life for me, made everything new; he is my everything, so how about you." The beauty that God exhibited in creation, in fact, before the creation came into being, is that he already taken all our wellbeing into account and put in place the answers to every prayer that we will ever make to him for whatever need or needs we can are likely to encounter on our walk along life’s highway.

In the beginning he met with men face to face, and he walked through quaint villages and stopped long enough to place his call and divine purpose upon ordinary people who simply went about their daily chores making the best of what resources they had. It was under such circumstance that he came upon a man named Abram. On the flip side of the coin, this man did not possess the ambition of becoming the friend of God. He had no ambition of becoming the "father of many nations" or the father of a nation called Israel or that nation that came to be known as the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is one single virtue that Abraham possessed, that God found to be an instrument that he could work with. First of all, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Here is a part of Abraham’s resume that all of us can learn from. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Romans 4: 20-22. From being a simple man of faith, but very strong in faith, he went on to be called the friend of God. "Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? 2^nd Chronicles 20:7. Here is another account of Moses’ relationship with God. "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." Deuteronomy 34:10. This is another account of men seeing God face to face. This means that we must reconcile these ancient narratives with the New Testament accounts that no man hath seen God at any time. As we proceed, we will clearly see that there are no contradictions involved, because the bible will answer its own questions. When we ponder and trace the footsteps of the pre-incarnate Lord, we will appreciate his word; "Before Abraham was I AM." We shall see his interaction with human beings over the space of many years.

The next portion of this study will ask us to consider the usage of the term "It shall come to pass." We will observe whether the term means the way it sounds, or there are variations with the term, due to the circumstances. It seems to me that among Christians at large if the statement is that God said "it shall come to pass" then, it is settled as a done deal. We look at world events, such as the rise in crime, the rise in poverty and worldwide disease, and seemingly throw up our hands in dismay and repeat the phrase" "well God did say, it shall come to pass." We will look at biblical facts that showcase both sides of the equation, and in so doing, we will educate ourselves concerning God’s will and purpose behind the term "it shall come to pass." We will quickly observe if there are conditions attached to each use of the term.

What we are trying to determine how God reacts to the term "it shall." We are going to feature real life stories, involving real people as they lived under the sentence of "IT SHALL." Right up front, we will notice from the "Divine Prospective" how God responded to the term that many of his prophets were inspired to announce to kings and to nations. We want to observe in truth if people’s actions to those announcements had any impact upon God’s final actions. Let us list a few "IT SHALL" to begin with, but because there are so many, we will list only a few. I will highlight a few to show their importance relative to this study. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14.

Let us attend the meeting between the angel Gabriel and Mary—and note the number of "shalls" mentioned in just a few verses of scripture. "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: (EL ELYON) and the Lord God shall give unto him, the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1: 30-33. The "shalls" noted above are God’s emphatic announcements concerning pending events and assured by the angel Gabriel. All of those events should have taken place as the word "SHALL" indicated. But taking a short glance through New Testament History, we quickly see that almost none of those predictions are fulfilled. Instead of ascending to the throne of David, as the angel said he would, Christ died, was buried, rose again, and ascended up to heaven from whence he began to reign from his seat on the throne of David.

Continued next chapter.