Oh Ancient of Days! Wow, what a name! I don’t know about you, but I’d never heard of the name El Olam before I started the study. But then investigating God’s Word is a set up to learning new things about Him, and myself. So I shouldn’t be surprised.
Last week we spent extra time digging into Elohim. The Mighty One in plural. The singular of Elohim, El, is part of this name. Intriguing, huh?
The name first appears in Genesis 21:33 just after Abraham makes a treaty with a Philistine leader. Wow. Really? Then he planted a tree and called on the Everlasting God.
Having just made a treaty, I think it’s interesting that he spoke to the One who knew all that would come after. The word Olam literally means forever.
This name speaks of eternity. But Eternity goes both ways! Like a geometric line. The Everlasting God exists in, not just forward eternity, but past eternity as well. “From ever-lasting to ever-lasting.” (Psalm 103:17) Feast on that for a moment.
El Olam speaks of God’s presence – or omnipresence – throughout history and the future. As to that, I don’t think time contains our great God any more than any thing else can contain Him.
This name speaks of the constancy of God. Constant in His nature as well as in His duration. And that nature is echoed through scripture. Like in James 1 (17) “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift comes from above. Coming down from the Father of Lights with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
God’s unchangeable nature is heralded with this amazing name.
Come back next Thursday for a little more on El Olam. In the meantime, feast on your amazing Father!
Marji Laine 