The name of God , “Adonai”,
means “Lord and Master”. Because “Yahweh” is considered too holy to be spoken by
the Hebrews, “Adonai”, and sometimes “Jehovah” are the two names which are
interchangeably spoken in its place. “Adonai” is plural, and can be
translated as “my lords”. “Adon” is the singular form of “adonai” and refers to
a human who is a master. In the old Testament “Adon” is used 215 times in
reference to man, and “Adonai” (sometimes as “Jehovah”) is used over 200 times
in reference to God. Whichever name is used, it speaks of submission and
obedience to someone who has authority.
The first time “Adonai” is used is
in Genesis 15:1-2 when God speaks to Abram. “After this, the word of the Lord
came to Abram in a vision. 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very
great reward.' But Abram said, 'Sovereign Lord (“Adonai”), what can you give me
since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of
Damascus?'” (Genesis 15:1-2, NIV). Through many hard years God had been “Lord
and Master” to Abram in many ways. When God called Abram to leave his homeland
and follow Him, Abram had no idea who this God was that was calling him. The
call was so strong and so clear to Abram that he surrendered, and packed up his
family and moved―trusting God to lead him and not knowing at all where he was
headed. During many years after leaving Ur, Abram had always relied on God to
take care of his family. Now in these two verses Abram seems to agonize over the
one thing means the world to him―having a son. Although the Lord told Abram in
Geneses 15:1 that He, the Lord, was Abram's “great reward”, Abram longed for a
son and heir to which to leave everything he owned . In Genesis 15:2 Abram told
“Adonai” that there was something else he wanted and needed beside God as his
reward. In fact, it was something that Abram desired more than God at this
moment in his life. He spoke the name “Adonai”, but he had not allowed God to be
his “Lord and Master” more than his desire for a son.
Just as Abram we often say that God
is our “Lord and Master”, and our lives say something very different. Instead of
God being the ruler of our lives, something else takes His place. That ruling
idol can be power, money, possessions, alcohol, drugs, food, children, and the
list goes on. Even good things in our lives can master us. Church can become
more important than the Lord. Doing things for others can become more important.
Whatever we put before God becomes the thing that claims our devotion and rules
our lives. God wants to be more than a lip-service “Adonai” we just honor when
we feel like it. He longs to be more than the temporary “Adonai” we seek during
hard times. He longs to be our real and permanent “Adonai” in every moment of
our lives.
This morning I look at myself. Is He
more than “lip service” to me? Do I run to Him only when I have a huge problem
in my life? Do I long for a promise or a need to be fulfilled more than I long
for Him? When I surrender all that I am―all my perceived needs, my thoughts, my
life-style, my will―to “Adonai”, my faithful and loving “Lord and Master”, He
becomes my “greatest reward”. He is all that I need. When He is first in my
heart and mind, I am at rest in my desires. I am at rest in His presence. Life
is peaceful even when circumstances rage. It is content even when everything is
not perfect around me because, in placing him first, I have discovered His joy.
I know the love of this “Lord and Master” who gave His life so that I might
live. He surrendered all to me. Now I long to surrender all to Him. He is my
“Adonai”.
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