An Essential Attribute Of Jehovah

Jehovah is unique in power. Jeremiah 10:6 says: "In no way is there anyone like you, O Jehovah, you are great, and your name is great in mightiness." Note that mightiness, or power, is linked with Jehovah's name. Remember, this name means "He Causes to Become." What enables Jehovah to cause himself to become whatever he chooses? Power, for one thing. Yes, Jehovah's ability to act, to carry out his will, is unlimited. Such power is one of his essential attributes.

Because we could never grasp the full extent of his power, Jehovah uses illustrations to help us. As we have seen, he uses the bull to symbolize his power. (Ezekiel 1:4-10) That choice is apt, for even the domesticated bull is huge and powerful creature. People in the Palestine of Bible times rarely, if ever, faced anything stronger. But they did know of a more fearsome sort of bull-the wild bull, of aurochs, which has since become extinct. (Job 39:9-12) Roman Emperor Julius Caesar once observed that these bulls were scarcely smaller than elephants. "Great is their strength," he wrote," and great their speed." Imagine how tiny and weak you would feel standing in the shadow of such a creature!

Similarly, man is puny and powerless when compared with the God of power, Jehovah. To him, even mighty nations are like a mere film of dust on a pair of scales. (Isaiah 40:15) Unlike any creature, Jehovah has unlimited power, for he alone is called "the Almighty." (Revelation 15:3) Jehovah is "vigorous in power" and possesses an "abundance of dynamic energy." (Isaiah 40:26) He is the ever-plentiful, inexhaustible source of power. He depends upon no outside source for energy, for "strength belongs to God." (Psalm 62:11) By what means, though does Jehovah exert his power?

Next time: How Jehovah Exerts His Power

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002