and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them." -Jesus in prayer to his Heavenly Father. (John 17:26)
When God commissioned Moses to return to Egypt to the deliver the Israelites from slavery, Moses asked, "...Suppose...I say to them (sons of Israel) the God of you forefathers has sent me to you and they do say to me, "What is his name? What shall I say to them? " -Exodus 3:13 (Ex 3:1-12)
Yes, God has a name. One of the saddest and most reprehensible things done in the name of religion is the removal of God's personal name from many, many Bible translations and replacing it with titles, such as "Lord" or "God". Why?
When you first meet someone the first thing you learn about the person, is their name. God is not a nameless, distant entity, beyond knowing or understanding. Although he is invisible, he is a person and God wants us to draw close to him. (James 4:8; Isa 55:6) He wants us to know his name.
Moses was really asking about the person represented by the name. Moses wanted to know what he should tell the sons of Israel, that would build up their faith in the God of their forefathers and convince them, this God was really going to deliver them from slavery.
God's answer to Moses, "I shall prove to be what I shall prove to be." -Ex 3:14 Some Bibles read, "I am that I am." Jehovah literally means "He causes to become". Yes, Jehovah would cause himself to become, whatever was needed in order to fulfill his promises. What ever the situation or need...God would "become" the solution to that need. Within the framework of his own perfect standards, there is nothing he cannot become in order to care for his earthly children in the best possible way. Jehovah invites us to think of him as the best Father imaginable (James 1:17)
Moses and the faithful Israelites soon learned that Jehovah is true to his name. They were eyewitnesses as he caused himself to become an unbeatable Military Commander, the Master of all natural elements, a peerless Lawgiver, Judge, Architect, Provider of food and water, Preserver of clothing and foot gear. -and more. (Gen. 13:18, 21, 22; 15:8; 20:1-17; 21:-22:31; 25:1-27:21; 16:45, 11-14, 26,27,31; 15:23-25;)
Yes, God has made his personal name known, has explained it's meaning and has demonstrated the meaning is true. Moses wanted to draw close to God and get to know him intimately, as his heavenly Father. In contrast, Pharoah was haughty, he cynically dismissed the God of Israel as being unimportant or irrelevant. (Ex 5:2) This attitude blinded the Pharoah to an important truth.
Jehovah is Sovereign Lord. -2 Samuel 7:22.
Jehovah is unique as the Creator -Rev 4:11.
He is King of Eternity - 1 Timothy 1:17; Rev. 15:3.
He has no beginning and no end. -Ps 90:2
So he is rightly called, "the Ancient of Days" -Daniel 7:9, 13, 22.
Jehovah is a spirit being, invisible to human eyes. -John 1:18; 4:24; Ex 33:20
He is not an abstract, impersonal force, or vague "First Cause"
Jehovah is a God with personality! He has four outstanding qualities, namely:
Power, Justice, Wisdom and Love.
His dominate quality is Love.
Jehovah has feelings, both strong and tender. He is "hurt at his heart" when his intelligent creatures violate the guide lines he provides for their well-being.(Gen 6:6; Ps 78:11, 41). But when we act wisely according to his Word, we make his "heart rejoice". -Proverbs 27:11.
How though can mere humans draw close to the Sovereign Lord of the universe?
By reading his word the Bible.
Examining our heavenly Father's qualities, and imitating all his ways.
The next few Thursdays I will be thinking about and posting my findings on God's four outstanding qualities. But first, what does it mean when the Bible says God is Holy? I hope you will join me.
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