The Lord our God is referred to by many names throughout the Bible. Today, we will talk about the name El Olam, or the Everlasting God.
What Does El Olam Mean?
El Olam is translated from Hebrew to “the Everlasting God, the Eternal God, or the God of Ancient Days.” This name is made up from a combination of El (a general term for God) and Olam, originating from the root of ’lm, (meaning eternity, forever, or everlasting).
Where is El Olam found in the Bible?
The name El Olam, the Everlasting God, is first found in Genesis 21. Abraham had just resolved a dispute with the Philistine King Abimelek (or, Abimelech), and Phicol the commander, over a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized (Abraham dug the well). With the gift or seven ewes, the two men swore an oath, or treaty, and called the land Beersheba, which means “well of the seven, or well of the oath.” This would be the location where Abraham’s grandson Jacob would later dream of a stairway to heaven, and the location of several more significant Biblical events in the coming years.
“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.” (Genesis 21:33-34).
Following this ownership dispute, Abraham planted the tamarisk tree as a sign that He believed God’s promise that this was truly the land of the covenant. That God, the Eternal God, would keep His covenant forever. And then Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time (Genesis 21:34).
The name El Olam, the Everlasting God, appears next in the book of Jeremiah:
“But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endue his wrath.” (Jeremiah 10:10).
Finally, the name El Olam, the Everlasting God, appears again in the book of Isaiah:
“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:4).
Though the exact name, El Olam, appears only a few times in scripture, the concept of God’s eternal presence endures throughout the Bible:
“The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8).
“How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is unsearchable.” (Job 36:26).
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:2-4).
“This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6).
What does El Olam mean to us?
First, God’s timing is better than ours.
Our Creator is eternal. Peter writes, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8).
Sometimes, things take a little longer than we would like. The woman with the issue of bleeding (Matthew 9:20-21) endured for twelve years. The invalid man near the pool of Bethesda waited for 38 years (John 5:5). Abraham was a hundred years old when his promised son, Isaac, was born (Genesis 21:5). The reward was worth the wait.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
God exists outside of time; therefore He has a patience that we cannot comprehend. And His timing is always right.
The very quotable verse, Isaiah 60:22, is often seen as “When the time is right, I, THE LORD, will make it happen.” (NLT). And amen to that. An interesting addition to many translations, is that God will bring it about “quickly, swiftly, suddenly, or I will hasten or hurry it along” (NASB, NIV, NKJV, ESV, etc.).
When the time is right, it will happen quickly. Write it on your mirror, plant a tamarisk tree if you must—trust that God will come through. Wait for it—and prepare, because it is going to happen suddenly.
Next, God does not change.
“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6).
God is immutable, which means that He does not change. As humans, we journey through seasons in life which shape our perceptions, our priorities, and our personalities. We grow, we learn…we can backslide, we can forget. We change for the good and for the bad.
But God is perfect. He was perfect in the beginning, and He will be perfect through eternity, so He will never change. I love that it says that because He does not change, we are not destroyed. He decided that He loves us, and therefore, He will keep His covenant with us. No matter what we do, not matter what is done to us. God is still God. He is still good. He is not going anywhere.
Finally, His faithfulness is eternal.
“The Lord appeared to him from afar. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
He is faithful forever. When we are faithless, He is faithful. From our first breath to our last, His words will never die (Matthew 24:35), and His promise remains. He will finish what He started (Philippians 1:6). And we get to live with Him forever.
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13).
I hope you enjoyed learning about El Olam, the Everlasting God. Learn more today with El Elyon, God Most High and Jehovah Rohi, The Lord is my Shepherd.
