Onomaticon: Master, Servant, and the Almighty
The Almighty
Some names for God are profoundly simple. The name “Almighty” comes from exactly the words it sounds like: “all mighty.” God possesses all the might and power in the universe. He can control the wind and tides, make things grow, give things life, take life back again, control circumstances, and any other act you can name. That list is just what you can see by looking out the window!
It’s no wonder, then, that God was called the Almighty in the Bible. The writers could see that He is so powerful that nothing is too hard for our God to do. He can heal the sick and give victory in battle. He can make the sun stand still and give greater wisdom than any other oracle.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.” –Revelation 1:8
The thing is, God was not just the Almighty in the Bible. He speaks not of what He was, but of what He is: “I am…” We can still call Him the Almighty today! He is just as powerful and deserving. He is still the ruler of everything. He was here from the beginning and will be with us until the very end. He truly is the Almighty.
Master and Servant
When I think of a servant, I think of someone who is always there. A servant does not worry about their own needs or desires. A servant is someone who gives others what they want or need — someone who will serve faithfully and will always be there no matter what time they are called.
To be a servant is a humble, thankless position, and yet God called Himself a servant. Think about that. The master of all called himself a servant. More than that: He became a servant. He chose to come down from his high position to serve in the humblest way He could by becoming a man (Matthew 12:18).
But God is also the Master (Matthew 8:19). He is in full control and has knowledge of situations that a servant would not have. As the master, He makes the decisions and chooses who will do this or do that, managing His Kingdom. How can God be both master and servant? We see both aspects of Him: He is always ready to hear our prayers, but cannot be controlled by us (servants do not dictate to the master). God meets our needs, but in order to have a full life we find that we must also give to others, following the role of a servant.
For most of us, God is both more powerful and more gentle than we give Him credit for.
You did a great job of being profound and easy to understand at the same time. And you’re right, God is so many things we don’t give Him credit for. I guess that’s where the importance of difficult life experiences come in; we learn about God more effectively by going through things. We get to know Him by letting Him be our counselor as we struggle to understand life and God.