Genesis 3:1-7, 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God (Jehovah) had made.
He (Satan) said to the woman, “Did God (Elohim) actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman (Eve) said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God (Elohim) said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God (Elohim) knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God (Elohim), knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
In this passage, we come to what is known as the fall, humanities first sin, or the original sin. The subtitle (the fall) could be misleading for some, but, what needs to be understood is that this isn’t a fall from God’s grace (or at least permanently), but a falling-out of a personal relationship with Jehovah. And again, the reason being is, a falling into sin, and away from a perfect personal relationship with Jehovah. The Hebrew language shows us that, let me explain.
In chapter 1 of Genesis, the word God is used 32 times. Every time, the Hebrew word used there is Elohim, which means “All powerful, All wise, Creator God”. It is the plural form of El (singular). So, from the start God is telling us that there is more than one being within the Godhead. And within those 32 times, not once does God instruct Moses to use the word Jehovah for Himself.
In chapter 2, which is a more detailed account of chapter one, mainly about day six, and the creation of mankind, the word Jehovah is used eleven times, first in verse four. And for years theologians have stated that verses 1-3 should actually be part of chapter one since they speak of the seventh day of the creation week. And to their opinion, I agree. So, eleven times God uses the name Jehovah for Himself, which means covenant or personal Lord God. The name Jehovah is also the Hebrew name Yahweh, these two names are virtually one and the same with the same meaning. In like manner, in chapter two, not once does God us the name Elohim for Himself, but only Jehovah.
Chapter two teaches us many things about origins and the foundational things of life. But, one thing that stands out in this chapter is the personal relationship that Jehovah has with our original parents. In verse seven, Jehovah breathed into Adam the breath of life (that they might have fellowship). In verse fifteen, Jehovah TOOK Adam and placed him in the garden paradise that He had created for him called Eden (God blesses Adam with a beautiful home to live in and care for). In verse sixteen, Jehovah makes a covenant with Adam, commanding him not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, yet he is free to eat of every other tree throughout the garden (So, God blesses him with an abundance of food). In verse nineteen, Jehovah BROUGHT all the animal kingdom to Adam to be named (so, God blessed Adam with a job). In verse twenty-two, Jehovah blesses Adam, as He created and BROUGHT to him a woman made just right for him. In verse twenty-four, Jehovah performs the first wedding as He blesses Adam with a lifelong wife in Eve. And in verse twenty-five, we find Adam and Eve in close relationship with Jehovah, as they daily fellowship in the garden with NO shame of their nakedness as they stand in the presence of their holy Lord, because they stood pure and sinless before Him throughout that time. So then, throughout chapter two we clearly see a personal, covenant Lord God (Jehovah), in fellowship with humanity, more intimately adored than solely a Creator God (Elohim). In a nut-shell, though Elohim and Jehovah are one and the same God, Elohim is the sovereign Creator, as to where Jehovah is a personal LORD God.
Then in chapter three there’s a tragic shift as sin enters the world. Thirteen times in chapter three the word God is used, with Jehovah being used nine times, and Elohim being used four. Of the nine times that Jehovah is used, it is the name that God uses referring to Himself. Satan (or the serpent) addresses God as Elohim three times (verse 1 & 5), not as personal LORD (Jehovah) declaring that he does NOT view God as HIS personal LORD. And the last and most tragic time that the word God is used, comes from the lips of Eve (verse 3). And how does she refer to Him? As Elohim and not Jehovah, just like Satan. While speaking with Satan, Eve could have openly expressed her devotion to God by calling Him Jehovah, but sadly, she doesn’t. Which tells us that even before disobeying God by eating the forbidden fruit, she was already rejecting God and abandoning her personal relationship with Him. What a sad sad story, that unfortunately the vast majority of her offspring have followed.
However, the beauty in this tragic chapter is often overlooked. Though Adam and Eve reject God as their LORD in that moment, Jehovah doesn’t reject them, as He continues to call Himself Jehovah throughout the chapter. As they run and hide from Him, He still pursues them. Jehovah Himself makes a sacrifice for their sins. And ultimately makes another covenant with them. He choose them among His elect bloodline by believing in faith that Jehovah would indeed send them a Savior that would finally destroy (crush the head of the serpent, verse 15), who had deceived them and led them into sin and rebellion.
As Christians we must understand that the Scriptures declare that before creation even began, God sovereignly decreed to save a people of His choosing throughout His redemptive history. That’s a creative work that’s carried out by Elohim. By sending a Savior and Lord to sacrifice Himself for the sins of His people, in order to restore them to a right relationship to God, that would fall under the definition of Jehovah. So, remember, just as God has many attributes, so also does He have many names that make up His entire being. However, if we call Him Jehovah (LORD), then He must have lordship over our lives, as we adore Him and seek to honor that name with our lives.
By: Daniel C. Rodgers