By Ann Spangler
People’s names in the ancient world did more than simply distinguish one person from another. They often conveyed the essential nature and character of a person. This is especially true when it comes to the names of God recorded in the Bible. The book Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide explores the primary names and titles of God in the Old Testament to reveal the deeper meanings behind them. El Shaddai, Elohim, Adonai, Abba, El Elyon—God Almighty, Mighty Creator, Lord, Father, God Most High—these are just a few of the names and titles of God that yield rich insights into his nature and character. Each day this week we’re focusing on one of the primary names or titles of God. By incorporating the divine names and titles into your own prayers—and learning about the biblical context in which the name was revealed—you’ll gain a more intimate understanding of who God is and how he can be relied on in every circumstance of your life. I pray these posts will lead you into fresh encounters with the living God.
[Read the Names of God Bible (NOG) on Bible Gateway]
Miqweh Yisrael—Hope of Israel: Praying the Name
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
(Hebrews 6:19)
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
(Psalm 46:2-3)
Reflect On: Hebrews 6:19 and Psalm 46:2-3
Praise God: Who is unchanging.
Offer Thanks: For his unchanging strength, love, and protection.
Confess: Any tendency to put your hope in things that cannot save you.
Ask God: To show you how to anchor your soul in him.
The Fastnet Race is one of the toughest and most prestigious offshore races in the world, capping a series of five races that make up the coveted Admiral’s Cup. On August 11, 1979, 303 yachts embarked from the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, each crew having the same goal—to be the fastest yacht in the 608-mile race.
Saturday, the first day of the race, was picture perfect—sunny with a pleasant breeze. But by lunchtime on Monday savage winds began whipping the Irish Sea into a fury. That night, force-10 winds created walls of water 35-40 feet high. For 20 hours 2,500 men and women battled the raging winds, their boats tossed about like toys in the tumultuous sea.
After receiving a string of mayday calls, British and Irish naval vessels, a Dutch frigate, helicopters, and several lifeboats came to the rescue. But despite their efforts, 15 sailors perished. Of the 303 yachts that began the race, only 85 made it to the finish line. The largest Fastnet race ever had turned into the worst disaster in yachting history.
The lessons learned from Fastnet are many, but there are two that stand out. First, experienced sailors now realize it is best to stay with the boat no matter what. The Fastnet sailors who did survived, while many of those who took to life rafts died. Lifeboats should have been a last resort. Second, a sea anchor or a set of drogues (drag devices used to steady a boat in high seas) can help a boat weather a violent storm by enabling its helmsman to maintain control. In the Fastnet tragedy, only one drag device was used and the boat using it survived. Several boats were abandoned because of conditions a sea anchor could have alleviated—loss of rudders, intolerable motion below decks, dismastings, and capsizing.
But what does a sailing disaster have to do with one of God’s titles—the Hope of Israel? Simply this—for two millennia the Christian symbol for hope has been an anchor. What better way to picture the One who is utterly reliable, completely steady, invulnerable to all the forces of evil that threaten us? If our hope is grounded in God, we will not be destroyed when gale force winds begin to blow in our direction; when fear, pain, grief and disappointment threaten to overwhelm us. No matter how terrible the storm, we can survive because God is with us.
Sometimes, however, we let fear take over. The conditions we face seem so impossible that we are tempted to jump ship. Instead of clinging to God, we jump into “life boats” of our own making, things that promise security but don’t deliver it: wealth, hard work, brains, alcohol, relationships, food. Rely on any of these long enough and you will find how incapable they are of keeping you safe in the midst of real trouble.
Misplaced hopes are dangerous because they keep us from anchoring ourselves in God, the only one who can save us. No wonder the hymnist Isaac Waats penned these words to a song still sung by millions:
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
[Read the other Bible Gateway Blog posts in this Praying the Names of God series by Ann Spangler]
Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Bio: Ann Spangler (@AnnSpangler) is an award-winning writer and the author of many bestselling books, including Less Than Perfect, Praying the Names of God, Praying the Names of Jesus, and The One Year Devotions for Women. She’s also coauthor of Women of the Bible and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, and the general editor of the Names of God Bible. Ann’s fascination with and love of Scripture have resulted in books that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers. She and her two daughters live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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The post Praying the Names of God: Our Hope for Years to Come appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
