What's in a Name?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 2:11–3:22

Matthew 17:10-27

Psalm 22:1-18

Proverbs 5:7-14

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Exodus 3:14-15 "God replied to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob - has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

It has been said that the most beautiful word in the world is our own name. We enjoy hearing someone else call us by name, especially if it is someone that we care about.

Why? Because everything that we are is tied up in our name. When someone cares enough to use our name in conversation, they are giving us value.

But there's one more thing – using someone's name speaks of relationship. We typically don't remember someone's name that we don't plan on getting to know. Yet, we will rarely forget someone's name who we enjoyed being with and would enjoy getting to know.

In Exodus 3, God told Moses to give Pharaoh a visit and tell him to free the Israelites. Moses knew that the Egyptian leader wouldn't do such a thing if a former-Egyptian-turned-shepherd made such a demand. He needed to appeal to a higher authority. But who?

So, God told him whose authority to appeal to. It's interesting that God didn't say, "Tell him God said so." Instead, He said: "Tell him I AM (Yahweh) said so."

God didn't give Moses His title (God). He gave him His name (Yahweh).

In doing so, God revealed much of who He is. As the great I AM, He is the existing One, the source from which all other life comes. Simply put, if God did not exist, neither would anything else.

Yet, in giving His name He also said: "I want you to know Me. I'm your God but I'm not some distant, impossible-to-get-to-know deity. Instead, I will work to make myself known to you so that you can know Me and enjoy Me. And by the way, you can just call me Yahweh."

After Adam and Eve violated God's command and thus put a wedge in humanity's relationship with God, He has been working to bring us back into relationship with Him. 

The ultimate and final expression of His love and the way in which we are brought into a deep, lasting relationship with Him is found in Jesus. When we acknowledge our guilt before a holy God and put our complete trust in Jesus to forgive us and fit us for heaven, we receive the gift of eternal life and are invited into a relationship with Yahweh that only gets better and better as time passes. Knowing God (in relationship) is ultimately what it means to be saved.

John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

So, spend time with Yahweh today. He is inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him that will glorify Him and be a source of fulfilling joy to you.