Friday 21st October 2016

Exodus 3:15

Nik Hookey considers the meaning of God's name YHWH and what it reveals of His nature.

In Hebrew culture, names have significance: Joshua means "God saves", Moses means "drawn" (from the Nile) and so on.

The story in Exodus 3 marks the greatest event in the history of Israel, a nation defining episode. It's the beginning of the story of God rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt, and taking them to the Promised Land.

Moses is nothing like the confident leader he later becomes. Instead, he is scared, and cannot see what God can do to change things.

It is now that God tells Moses his name, and we think that His name means something like, 'He causes to be'. This is emphasised in the previous verse, when God says, "I am who I am".

In other words, Moses can have confidence in the One who causes all things to be, for He is going to lead them out of Egypt, into a plentiful land.

Are you facing a situation where you can't see what can happen to change things?

Put your trust in the One who causes all things to be, for He will be with you always.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Nik Hookey
Pastor
Newcastle Baptist Church
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
www.newcastlebaptist.org.uk

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Reader Comments

Posted by David in Australia @ 13:30 on Oct 22 2016

Abraham and his descendants did know the name of God, but as God's name Jehovah (YHWH) means "he causes to become," they had not at that stage, as a nation of slaves, seen him as "he who causes to become" that was soon to change.

Jehovah did become what he needed to become to affect their deliverance.

The fact that the Israelites already knew God's name is born of the fact that Moses's mother's name, Jochebed, means Jehovah is glory.

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Posted by Keith in Chicago @ 07:17 on Oct 22 2016

If the Hebrews didn't know Yahweh's (or Jehovah's) name before He spoke to Moses from the burning bush, how did Moses' mother come to have the name Jochebed, meaning something like "Yahweh (or Jehovah) is Glory"?
Also, the form "Jehovah" was used as early as the Geneva Bible, 1560. It appears 4 times in the KJV and is the most familiar form of the tetragrammaton in English.

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Posted by David in San Diego,CA @ 17:58 on Oct 21 2016

America's Founding Father's used the name Jehovah .
Ethan Allen used it after a victory against the British .
That was over 200 years ago. Badly written and researched article .

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Posted by Sean in Vancouver, Canada @ 16:30 on Oct 21 2016

Very mice article and more accurate than many on the subject. Thank you for drawing attention to the divine name. I wish the Jews would have preserved the name as much as they have preserved their non-scriptural traditions. "The Lord" is not a translation of YHWH. It is a PERSONAL, proper name and was used often by Jesus. (John 17:26)

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The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

What Is So Special About God's Name?

Exodus 3:15

Nik Hookey considers the meaning of God's name YHWH and what it reveals of His nature.

Reader Comments

Add your comment

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.

What Is So Special About God's Name?

Exodus 3:15Nik Hookey considers the meaning of God's name YHWH and what it reveals of His nature.

Reader Comments

Add your comment

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.

Exodus 3:15

Nik Hookey considers the meaning of God's name YHWH and what it reveals of His nature.