Speak the Name

Speak the Name

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound meaning behind God revealing his name to Moses in Exodus chapter 3. The message emphasizes that understanding God's name is not about a secret password or a magical incantation, but about grasping the character and mission of God.

The Burning Bush and God's Initiative

The narrative begins with Moses encountering God in a burning bush on Mount Horeb, later known as Sinai. This powerful image sets the stage for God to introduce himself. Unlike the pagan gods of the ancient world, who were often distant and whose names were shrouded in secrecy, the God of Israel takes the initiative to reveal his identity. In Genesis 1 and 2, God is introduced as creating a place to dwell with mankind, desiring a relationship where humanity would reflect his image throughout creation. However, humanity failed, leading to corruption and the need for restoration, which God began through Abraham.

After generations, Abraham's descendants found themselves enslaved in Egypt, crying out to God. God heard their cries and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This act of remembering signifies God's faithfulness to his promises and his mission to restore his relationship with humanity. The burning bush encounter marks a pivotal moment where God steps into this story of suffering and oppression to act on behalf of his people.

"I Am Who I Am": Unveiling God's Name

When Moses asks God by what name he should tell the Israelites he has been sent, God responds with the enigmatic phrase, "I am who I am" (Hebrew: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh). This phrase, as noted in many Bible translations, can also be understood as "I will be who I will be". This signifies God's eternal, unchanging, and dynamic presence. It suggests that God is the one who brings forth and causes things to happen.

Following this, God tells Moses to say to the people of Israel, "The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered intimately throughout all generations." The term "Lord" here represents the Tetragrammaton, the four Hebrew letters Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, which became the sacred, unspoken name of God in Jewish tradition during the Second Temple period due to its perceived metaphysical potency. Instead, it was replaced in speech with Adonai, meaning "Lord."

The teaching clarifies that Ehyeh (I am/I will be) and the Tetragrammaton (often rendered as Yahweh or Yahveh) are not two separate names but different ways of understanding God's identity. Ehyeh is the first-person declaration of God's being and action, while Yahweh is the third-person form, allowing humanity to refer to and pray to him. The name itself is linked to the Hebrew verb "to be" (hayah), emphasizing God's active and ongoing involvement in the world. The speaker highlights that attempting to use the first-person form (Ehyeh) in prayer would be considered blasphemous, as it's a name reserved for God's self-identification. Instead, we use the third-person form (Yahweh or Lord) as our response to who he is and what he does.

God's Mission: Joining Us in the Fire

A crucial point emphasized is that God's revelation of his name underscores his mission to be with his people and to act on their behalf. Just as the angel of the Lord appeared in the burning bush and promised to deliver Israel from Egypt, God continues to join us in the "fires" of our lives. This is illustrated by the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace in Daniel 3, where another figure appeared in the flames. Deuteronomy even refers to Egypt as a "blazing furnace." This theme culminates in the person of Yeshua (Jesus), who, as John 8:58 records, declared "Before Abraham was, I am," echoing the divine name and asserting his pre-existence and deity. This declaration led to immediate opposition, as the Jewish listeners understood the significance of using that name.

The speaker connects God "coming down" (as seen in Exodus 3:8 and the Tower of Babel narrative in Genesis 11) with God taking action in the world. Yeshua's coming down from heaven (John 6:38) was to do the will of the Father and ultimately to bring heaven to earth. Therefore, the gospel is not just about escaping this world but about partnering with Yeshua to bring heaven's values and actions into our present reality.

Application for Everyday Life

• Trust in God's Presence: Regardless of the challenges you face, remember that God's name, "I will be who I will be," signifies his constant presence and his promise to be with you.
• Rely on God's Action: Understand that God is not passive but actively involved in the world and in your life. His name testifies that you can rely on him to act according to his will.
• Live Out Your Faith: "Speaking the name" is not just about verbalizing it but about living out your faith through your actions, faithfulness, and service to others.
• Focus on God's Mission: Recognize that God has a mission to bring heaven to earth, and we are called to be his "image bearers," participating in this mission by meeting the needs of those around us.
• Don't Be Defined by Your Inadequacies: Like Moses, you may feel inadequate, but God's response, "I will be with you," emphasizes that his power and presence are what truly matter.
• Embrace Intimacy with God: Unlike the distant pagan deities, the God of Israel desires an intimate relationship with you, revealed through his personal name.
• Serve Others: The example of Russell and Daniel Freeman, who sacrificially serve their community, illustrates what it means to be image bearers of God in action. Their service reflects God's character of love and care for others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the revelation of God's name in Exodus 3 is a powerful declaration of his character as the eternally present and actively involved God who is on a mission to redeem and restore his creation. Understanding his name invites us to trust in his promises, rely on his actions, and participate in his mission by reflecting his image in our daily lives. It is not about the phonetic pronunciation but about the profound truth that God is with us and will do what he will do.

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References

• Exodus 3
• Genesis 1
• Genesis 2
• Genesis 12

Resources Mentioned

• Bearing God's Name, Why Sinai Still Matters by Dr. Carmen Ames
• The Mission of God by Christopher Wright

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