The third name of God we will look at is “Adonai,” which is translated as “Lord.” It is written with small letters to distinguish it from “LORD” for Jehovah.

The meaning of Adonai is that He is truly our Lord. He is the Sovereign One, the Master of all. Adonai deserves absolute obedience and demands it. He also promises to provide all that is needed so we can obey Him. He gives both direction and provision.

When we call Him Lord, Adonai, it is a declaration of surrender to Him. It is like calling Him “Boss,” but in a much more powerful way, for He is King, God, the Ultimate Authority.

When Moses was arguing with God in Exodus 4:10 about leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses slipped and called Him “Adonai:" “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” But, once Moses called Him Adonai, he had essentially already surrendered!

And so should we submit to our wonderful God, Adonai, committing oursleves to obey Him no matter what. Adonai will respond by giving us all the help we need to follow Him through wherever He takes us!

Adonai is our powerful, wise, loving and gracious Lord. To follow Him is the greatest adventure in life!