Our Saviour and our Helper - part two

In the post above, I reflected on God's name, El Yeshua: God of my salvation. In church circles today, we often think of our "salvation" as something that began at a given point in time, while the use of Yasha in the Old Testament reflected a more ongoing understanding of God's continually rescuing His people and delivering them from their enemies.

While it's true that being "born again" isn't something that takes years to happen or that needs to happen over and over again, it's equally true that we remain in need of God's help and grace all throughout our lifetime here on earth. This is expressed quite well in the biblical understanding of God as our Helper. Not in the common understanding of how an employee or subservient person might help "the boss," but more in the sense of how a parent might help a child who is not able to do things for herself.

In the Old Testament, this is often expressed by the Hebrew name Yahweh ʿEzrâ, while in the New Testament, the Greek word boethus is used:

Psalm 46: 1 - God (Elohim) is our refuge and strength, an ever present Helper (ʿEzrâ) in times of trouble.

Psalm 40: 17 - I am poor and needy, yet the Lord (Adonai) keeps me in His thoughts. You are my Help (ʿEzrâ) and my Deliverer.

Hebrews 13: 6 - The Lord is my Helper (Boethus); I shall not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

The message could not be more clear: we can always call on God for help, including in times of trouble. However, if we don't realise like the psalmist that we are, "poor and needy," we will probably go through life thinking that we don't need God's help and will tend to do things in our own strength. We'll turn to Him only when we feel really out of our depth, instead of depending on His grace and help in all the aspects of everyday life.

Let's not go it alone. Let's begin each new day inviting God to be our Helper in all that we encounter that day.