EL OLAM: THE EVERLASTING GOD

“Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” ­~ Genesis 21:33

REFERENCE: Genesis 21:28-34

Abraham had several eye-opening encounters with God, and this is another such encounter. God fulfilled the promise of Isaac 25 years after making the promise to Abraham, at the age of 100 years. From that experience, he discovered that time does not limit God; He does not consult time to do whatever He wants at any time – time has nothing on Him. So, when Abraham entered a covenant of perpetuity (with generational consequence) with Abimelech, he planted a tamarisk tree and invoked the name of this God who is not limited by time – Everlasting God; EL OLAM in Hebrew.

While El means Strong One, Olam, the Hebrew word Abraham chose to use for God, is rich in meaning. Olam means, ‘for a long time, always, continuous existence, forever, and beyond the field of vision, time or space.’ Hence, El Olam reveals God as ‘the Everlasting God.’ The God without beginning or end. He was before all the worlds and will continue to be when time shall no more be. He created time, yet He exists outside of time. Before everything we see today came to be, there was God, with no beginning or an end. Abraham wanted God to do something that would extend to his descendants, so, He called on the God who once did a time-defying miracle in his life. He planted a Tamarisk tree on the land, securing it for years to come since tamarisk trees live up to 50-100 years. In that tree, Abraham pointed to God’s eternal nature.

El Olam reveals the character of God and His word as enduring and unchanging. It means that God is dependable and can keep whatever is committed to Him for generations. If we serve Him as our God, our children’s children can still have Him as theirs and feed off the fruits of our walk with Him. He is a dependable, trustworthy, and consistent God. He does not diminish in wisdom or power; He is the same today, yesterday, and will always be.

Dear friend, El Olam has it all figured out, rest in Him; He has already gone into your tomorrow and is turning things in your favor. You may think time is running out, but He will never run out of time; He lives in a duration that keeps running on but never running out. He will still do what you think has not happened on time. You can trust Him with your tomorrow and your grandchildren’s tomorrow. He keeps His covenant for a thousand generations with those who fear Him. Don’t let anyone make you think you have lost time; you are not too old or too late for a miracle, and your best days are not behind but ahead of you. The God who controls time is on your side; if it has not happened on time, He will make it happen in time.

PHOTO QUOTE:

ADDITIONAL TEXTS: Isaiah 40:27-31, Psalm 90:1-4 & Philippians 1:6

PRAYERS

El Olam, my times are in Your Hands, I commit to You all that seems slow in coming in my life, my career, promotion, healing, and spiritual growth. I know though it tarries, El Olam will bring it to pass in time, in the right time. I trust in You Lord, because my life is hidden in God with Christ Jesus, and all things are working out for my good in Jesus’ name, Amen.