What does it mean that God is El Gibbor?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible gives many names and titles for God, all of which speak to an aspect of His character or nature. The name El Gibbor, or "Mighty God," presents God as all-powerful and above everything in all creation. Deuteronomy 10:17 says that God is "the God of gods and the Lord of lords." This means He is higher than all, and everything on earth is under His authority (1 Peter 5:6). God's might is shown throughout the Bible, from freeing the Israelites from slavery (Exodus 6-14) to Jesus' control of evil spirits (Mark 1:32-34) and miraculous healings (Luke 5:17, 6:19, 8:46). God's might was ultimately displayed in Christ's resurrection from death and victory over the grave for all eternity (John 10:18, 28; Acts 2:22-24; Ephesians 1:19-23). In the book of Revelation, John records his visions of the end times and heaven. He writes that Jesus will return in ultimate victory over Satan and will overcome all evil (Revelation 12:10, 19:11-15). God's might is not just for defeating Satan; it is also for believers so we may stand strong in our own spiritual battles, having comfort in the presence and help of our Mighty God (Psalm 62:7; Zephaniah 3:17, Ephesians 6:10).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The nation of Israel was reminded, before they entered the promised land, of their past in slavery in Egypt and how God mightily freed them with His unmatched power (Deuteronomy 5:15).
• God is described as "the God of gods and the Lord of lords"; no one is above Him in power and strength. His might and greatness are supreme (Deuteronomy 10:17).
• The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the coming of Jesus hundreds of years before His birth, giving several titles that describe who Jesus would be. One of the titles given to Jesus is "Mighty God," referring to him as an authoritative king (Isaiah 9:6).
• We find all things in God, from salvation to honor. In Him we have a mighty rock of stability and a refuge in life's turbulence (Psalm 62:7).
• God reminds Israel that He is always with them and is mighty to save them. With the Holy Spirit, we also have God's constant presence and confidence that His might will save us. He delights over those who have His salvation and quiets us with His love (Zephaniah 3:17).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus demonstrated His might as God by exercising authority over all sickness through His healing of people during His ministry. He also exercised ultimate authority over every evil spirit He encountered, freeing the people under their control (Mark 1:32-34).
• Following His endurance of Satan's temptation, Jesus returned from the wilderness and was filled with the might and power of the Holy Spirit, beginning His ministry of teaching and healing (Luke 4:14-15).
• One of the most prominent ways Jesus demonstrated His position as Mighty God during His time on earth was through powerfully healing countless people of their physical illnesses (Luke 5:17).
• The power of Jesus' ability to heal sicknesses is so great that, during His earthly ministry, people believed that all they needed to do was touch Him or His cloak in order to receive healing (Luke 6:19, 8:46).
• After Jesus' resurrection, He appeared to many people, including two disciples who were kept from knowing who He was. When He asked them about the crucifixion and Himself, the disciples described Him as "powerful in word and deed" before God and everyone who saw Him. This indicates the knowledge all had of His place as Mighty God (Luke 24:13-19).
• Jesus demonstrated His unmatched might over death by telling His followers, before His death, that no one would take His life without His allowance of it. He chose to lay his life down and was fully able to take it back up again in His resurrection. This gives us eternal life that no one can take from us (John 10:18, 28).
• In Peter's first sermon after Jesus' ascension, he reminds the people of Jesus' might through the miracles and wonders they witnessed and of His ultimate power over death and the grave (Acts 2:22-24).
• God is above all, with incomparable power; no one and nothing is greater than Him. His might is shown most greatly through the resurrection of Christ and His triumph over death. This might is at work now also in the time to come, which can give us comfort and confidence that God is in total control (Ephesians 1:19-23).
• In Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus, he illustrates our spiritual preparation as putting on armor. He begins his list of spiritual armor pieces with instruction to believers to stand strong in the Lord and "in His mighty power." God's might and power will sustain us in our spiritual battles against the enemy (Ephesians 6:10). (Note to editor: the period between might and power will not disappear even after deleting and trying to re-type. It occurs when hitting the space bar between those two words.)
• God's might and power remind us of His authority and our position. We are to be humble before God and remember that we will never be greater than Him. When we humble ourselves before God, we invite more of His grace into our lives (1 Peter 5:6).
• In John's vision of Heaven and its throne, he sees various elders and creatures bowing before it in worship. They praise by saying the Lamb of God is worthy "to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." Our prayers and praise should echo their admiration of the might of our God (Revelation 5:11-14).
• God's might and power will never be conquered by Satan or overcome by evil. The power and salvation of God are ever-present in His kingdom and for His people (Revelation 12:10).
• Upon Jesus' return to earth, He appears as a rider on a white horse, in authority over all nations and peoples. He will rule them with unchallenged power and will defeat all evil (Revelation 19:11-15).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

There are many times when the world can feel out of control, but remembering God's might and power can help us have confidence as we face each day. Ephesians 6:10-17 outlines the armor of God, which we wear spiritually to engage in spiritual warfare each day. Ephesians 6:10 reminds us that our strength comes from the Lord's mighty power. We do not fight against spiritual enemies alone, but, rather, with the unmatched strength God provides us. Spending consistent time in God's Word and prayer will further strengthen this armor we wear.

The strength of our trust in God can be seen as we rely on His might and power in difficulty as well as what we proclaim in our praise. Our praise should reflect our knowledge of God's might, just as the praise of those around the heavenly throne does (Revelation 5:11-14). We can thank God for His unrivaled might and ask Him to further provide it to us in times of need. Above all, we can have confidence that, no matter what the world looks like around us, we have God's salvation (Psalm 62:7) and eternal victory with Him over all death and evil because of His death and resurrection (Revelation 12:10; 19:11-15).

UNDERSTAND

• El Gibbor, a name of God in the Bible, means "Mighty God."
• God's might is shown throughout Scripture.
• Jesus is referred to as "Mighty God" and shows this through His miracles, resurrection, and coming victory over Satan and evil.

REFLECT

• When have you foundyourself struggling to believe that God is mightier than anything else in creation?
• How does the knowledge that nothing is more mighty than God impact your trust in Him?
• How does God's might encourage you in difficult times?

ENGAGE

• How does knowing the depth of God's might and power affect the way Christians face difficulty, and how should it be different than the way unbelievers do?
• What views of God, positive or negative, may the world have that are connected to His position as Mighty God?
• How does the knowledge of God's might impact how we share our faith?