The proper study of the Christian is the God-head. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the doings, and the existence of the great God which he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can comprehend and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go on our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But when we come to this master science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, amid that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought "I am but of yesterday and know nothing." (Sermon on Mal_3:6). – A.W. Pink

Elohim is a name of God rarely used outside of a study of the revealed names of God. Yet it seems that if we do not contemplate the various names, their meaning, etc., in some type of focused study on the names of God, we are missing out on much that is beneficial to our increase of knowledge and understanding of the Godhead. The names of God themselves reveal to us various aspects of His character, His electing love for His people, His holy nature, etc. It even reveals more concerning our redemption than perhaps previously thought. It is this last aspect that has been on my mind as of late.

Take the name of God found in Genesis 1, ‘Elohim.’ It’s the first one we are given in Scripture (Gen. 1:1). It is by far the most commonly used name of God in the Old Testament, and is derived from two Hebrew root words, ‘El’ which means ‘powerful’, ‘mighty’, and the ending ‘him’ , which is plural.

The excellent commentary of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown tells us:

God — the name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew, “Strong,” “Mighty.” It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, namely, that though God is one, there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead – Father, Son, and Spirit, who were engaged in the creative work (Pro_8:27; Joh_1:3, Joh_1:10; Eph_3:9; Heb_1:2; Job_26:13).

We all no doubt have contemplated, at some time, how the Trinity worked together in the creation of all things. Each Person of the Godhead in complete agreement as to purpose in every facet of creation. But when we contemplate our own redemption, whom do we speak of the most? When we speak of redeeming grace, which person of the Godhead do you think of automatically? Christ Jesus, of course, and rightly so!

Yet I submit to you that more praise should be on our lips for the entire Triune Godhead when it comes to contemplating our redemption. The Triune Godhead, after all, was in complete agreement when it came to our redemption and it’s accomplishment as they were in Creation! This of course, is the great mistake of the universalists, pitting the purpose of Christ Jesus against the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Christ died for all, yet the Spirit regenerates only some! No, no, the Trinity is eternally in perfect harmony and agreement in all things.

Yet do you view the love and grace of Christ Jesus as being more important, or of greater value than the love and grace of the Father? What of the Holy Spirit? Is not the love and grace of the third person of the Trinity equally unsearchable and amazing? Absolutely.

Now I realize we never attempt, intentionally that is, to separate the love and grace of Christ from the Father, or the Spirit, but is it possible we do not contemplate the grace, mercy and love of the Spirit, or of the Father as perhaps we should?

I suppose the point is simply this: When we speak of the ‘grace of God’, we are in fact, speaking of the grace of Elohim, Creator and Sustainer of all things, and that is all 3 Persons of the Trinity! It seems a grand mistake to think the love, grace, mercy and compassion shown to us by the Spirit or the Father is not equal to the love, grace, mercy and compassion of Christ Jesus!

- Joel