Just a reminder that the next several posts, beginning with the previous post, will be one long post broken up into several segments. I feel like I need to back up for a moment and point out, if I have not already, that a persons name had profound significance when scripture was being penned. This is why a study of God's names may be so fruitful for us today. HIS names communicate so much about HIM. Today people name their children simply for the way the name sounds when it is spoken or they may name their children after someone that had a significant impact on their lives, but seldom do people think of the actual meaning of the names chosen. I know that this is not true for everyone, but generally speaking.
The reason knowing and understanding the names of God helps us trust him in our daily walk and with salvation is that in Scripture a person’s name more often than not is a sign or signifies his character and essence. This is specifically true when is given by God. There are several times in scripture when God changes peoples names...remember HE changed Jacob’s name to Israel and HE changed Saul's name to Paul. When our Lord entered the world God the Father named HIM Jesus...You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
For me every name of God revealed in scripture is a little like one facet of a huge beautiful diamond. As the diamond slowly turns before your eyes and the light catches each facet of the glorious rock something wonderful is revealed...each one reveals something different.
In the previous post I presented the case that in Exodus 3 that Yahweh means "I AM" or "I AM WHO I AM." In most English translations when we see LORD in all caps the word in the Hebrew is YHWH or Yahweh. In Exodus 3 we are witnessing God's response to Moses when Moses asked the question, who shall I say sent me to you? A few chapters latter we see Moses and Aaron have gone to the Israelites and to Pharaoh...long story short, Pharaoh gets really ticked and makes things harder on the Israelites and now in Exodus 6 Moses cries out to God asking why did you do this thing and the following is God's response.
Ex 6:2-8 Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am Yahweh. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I did not make My name Yahweh known to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as foreigners. 5 Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered My covenant.
6 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am Yahweh, and I will deliver you from the forced labor of the Egyptians and free you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who delivered you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”
God's Word really is phenomenal...God revealed in HIS Word is breath taking...I'm thinking it may be more like the most striking rose, the Rose of Sharon, blooming before you eyes. God's Word is HIS redemptive history unfolding before us. The Exodus 3 passage proclaims loud and clear...I AM THE LORD GOD AND YAHWEH IS MY NAME...this is my name forever, I established MY covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I have heard the cries of MY people and KNOW THIS...I AM YAHWEH and I will deliver you, I will redeem you with my mighty outstretched arm, I will take you as MY people, I will be your God and you will KNOW THAT I AM YAHWEH YOUR GOD! I have delivered you...I AM THE LORD!
God's Word magnificently shows us HIS outstretched arm, HIS Word incarnate shows us Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Titus 2:13 clearly portrays "the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, the glory of God is revealed in Jesus, "the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind" is revealed in Jesus (Titus 3:4)
Jn 8:58 before Abraham was, I am.”
Jn 8:12 I am the light of the world.
Jn 6:35I am the bread of life;
Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jn 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life.
Jn 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jn 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches.
I need to shut up and worship...beholding the gory of Yahweh together.
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