The Glory of the Name of the “LORD” Part 1, O.T.
“I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:13-15)
From our last study, we learned that it is the man who has a burden to see lost souls saved who receives the greatest vision of the Glory of God (Ex. 32:30-33). Here is how it went down:
(Ex. 33:18-19) Moses asked God: “shew me thy glory.”
(19) The LORD said: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; (Ex. 34:5-6) And the LORD descended in the cloud, & stood with him there, & proclaimed the name of the LORD. (6) And the LORD passed by before him, & proclaimed, the LORD [Jehovah], the LORD [Jehovah] God [“El”],
First we notice the “Name” of the LORD is a most significant aspect of His Glory. Names have a deep & profound meaning. Names help define us. They are prophetic capture our essence. The Hebrew word for soul is “neshamah.” The middle 2 letters: “shin” & “mem” make the word “shem” meaning ‘name.’ Our name is a key to our soul.
The first Person to ever call something or someone by Name was God Himself. God said: “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). And there was light! He spoke the name & the object came into being.
It is important to understand the significance of our “Name” because God has designed a meaning & purpose for it. Our names are indicators of our potential & predictors of our possible futures. Names help define our God given mission on earth.
Two true examples:
There was a young girl named Cynthia who experienced disappointment & struggle when she learned her name meant “moon.”
Then she realized the moon was a reflector of the Sun’s light into a dark world. She began to realize her purpose was to reflect the light of Christ, “the Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2; Matt. 5:16) into our dark world.
When Clay was a young boy he overheard some relative saying: “Clay is no good. He is just like His name, a piece of dirt.” That had a huge negative effect on him and he considered himself no better than dirt. Then he learned we were all made from the dirt and God has a purpose for each of us. We are the clay and God is the potter. He will mold us into a beautiful person if we surrender to His will (Jer. 18:1-4)
Read the tragedy of ‘Nabal’ which means “fool” in Hebrew. How could a parent name their child “Fool”? (Matt. 5:22). Sadly He lived up to his name & died a fools death (I Samuel 25:25). Even someone with such an unfortunate name could find a glorious God given spiritual meaning for it! (Read I Cor. 4:10; 3:18; 1:27).
Do you know the meaning of your name & a Biblical application for it that can guide your life to manifest the Glory of God?
Our Names are Profoundly Spiritual. God knew our name even before we were born! (Isa. 49:1; Gal. 1:15-16; Jer. 1:5-6). In an amazing prophecy God called Cyrus by name over 200 years before he was born (Isa. 45:1-6)! Ultimately, it’s what we make of our name that counts. When we are born we are given a name. But at the end of our life “a good name” is all we take with us! (Prov. 22:1; Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3). Are you making a good name for yourself before God & man? (Luke 2:52)
Second we notice The LORD proclaimed the “Name” (singular) of the LORD. But then God reveals 3 Names: “The LORD” [Jehovah], “The LORD” [Jehovah] God [“El”]. LORD or Jehovah if found 6,823 times in the O.T.. “El” or “Elohim is found around 3000 times in the O.T.. We have a parallel Trinitarian revelation of Baptizing in “the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19)
“God” is the Hebrew word “El” (short for Elohim). “El” means mighty & omnipotent. The power of Elohim is demonstrated in the Creation of the universe (Gen. 1:1). The Messiah, Jesus is “Emmanuel”
Jesus’ name ‘Emmanuel’ = ‘emm’ meaning “with”; “anu” meaning “us”; “El” meaning “God Almighty.” Thus Jesus is “God [Almighty] with us” (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; Matthew 1:23). Great indeed is the Mystery of Godliness. “God was manifest in the flesh” (I Tim. 3:16KJV). Jesus’ omnipotence was revealed in His power over His Creation. He could Walk on water, calm a storm with just His word, raise the dead, etc..
“Emmanuel” – God Almighty with us…: Emmanuel in our sorrow! Emmanuel in the storms of life! Emmanuel when we are rejected by the world! Emmanuel came into the world so that we could know in all times & places “Almighty God is with us.” Hallelujah! (John 14:18-23; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; 43:1-3).
“LORD” “LORD” (“Jehovah” “Jehovah”). “Jehovah” is repeated twice in Ex. 34:6. The Name Jehovah (LORD) is applied to Two Persons in Gen. 19:24 and Zech. 2:8-9. There are many hints of the Trinitarian nature of God before He is fully revealed in the N.T..
Jesus is “Jehoshua” or “Yeshua” in Hebrew (also Joshua in English Heb. 4:8KJV)
Jesus’ full name in Hebrew is “Jehoshua” means “Salvation of Jehovah” or “Jehovah [the] Saviour.” Jesus is Jehovah come to earth as our Saviour. Only in Jesus can we experience the Glory of God.
A Biblical Definition of “LORD” is found in Genesis 21:33. “Abraham… called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
“Everlasting” means God is eternal & has no beginning & no end. “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God” (Ps. 90:2).
“JEHOVAH” is the great “I AM” of the Burning Bush (Burning but never consumed). “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
“I AM” comes from same Hebrew root as “Jehovah.” The verb “to be”
“Jehovah” always was, is, & will always be. “I AM” Reveals God’s Eternal Self Existence (Ex. 3:14-15). The 4 Hebrew Letters used in the Name “LORD” (JHVH) are the same letters used to signify past, present, & future (Rabbi Lapin). God transcends Time. He created Time. God’s Name Reveals He is Eternal.
Jesus is eternal. He always was, is, & forever will be without ever changing (John 8:58; Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17). What peace that gives us once we Know Him! And know He Loves us! Jesus is the Eternal Unchanging LORD. Jesus said: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Rev. 1:8; 1:4, 18; 4:8).
What relevance does this have for me?
Because we are created in the image of God most of our problems & their solutions are ultimately Theological! They result from a broken or bad relationship with God. How often do we ignore the spiritual causes & solutions to our problems? (2 Chron. 16:12)
Try this Exercise: Write down your greatest needs: ________.
Now listen as God’s proclaims His glorious Name:
“I AM THAT _______! I AM”
“I need healing.” I Am The LORD that “healeth all thy diseases” (Ps. 103:3). “I need forgiveness.” I AM the LORD THAT “forgives all thine iniquities” (Ps. 103:3). “I need light; salvation; strength.” I AM the LORD THAT is “thy light & thy salvation” (Psalm 27:1).
Knowing God is Indispensible for Living
We can never know who (or what) we are till we know something of who God is. Illustration: Andrew Tong was a student at Cal Tech, and shared a very provocative illustration of how He came to know who he really was only has he built his life around Christ.
God is the Great “I AM”: We creatures at best are only “i am”
We are totally dependent for our existence upon the God who created us in His Image (Heb. 1:2-3). Think God away & man has no purpose or meaning in life. Our Relationship to “I AM” is undeniable.
It is woven into the fabric of existence that when you speak of yourself, you must say His Name! When I tell people who I am I say: “I am Ray.”
Everything begins with the great “I AM” in Creation & must begin with Him in my life! (Matt. 6:33; Acts 17:27; Isa. 55:6).
Man’s great tragedy is that Man is not content to be “i am.” He wants to be “I AM!” Natural man is a sinner because he challenges God’s selfhood in relation to his own. Like satan, man wants to be “Like the Most High” (Isa. 14:12-15). We want to accept Jesus as our Saviour but we want to be our own Lord. I want to do things my way! The essence of sin is sitting on the throne of our own self hood. There is no room for God in the life of a man filled with himself! To Experience “Victorious Christian Living” we must face up to our responsibility to God who Created us and gives us life. We often say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we’re not defeated! We’re disobedient! In our struggle with sin don’t use terms like victory & defeat. Admit you are either obedient or disobedient to God! (John 14:21-23).
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21-23; 14:15).
Illustration: How Jacob became Israel (Gen. 32:9-11, 24-28). Jacob wrestles with God for a blessing. Before God could bless Him He asked Jacob: “What is your name?” Why? Because the last time Jacob was asked: “Who art thou” by his father Isaac, he lied (Gen. 27:18-36). Now he must confess the truth of who he really is: Jacob, “the supplanter” (the deceitful lying conniver). Once He faces & admits the terrible character he really is, he receives the blessing of God and a new Name, Israel! The truth sets him free! He has become a new man!
When do we really begin to Live?
Real life doesn’t and can’t begin until “I am crucified with Christ” (Gal 2:20; Matt. 16:25-6). I must Die to the self Life (Lk. 9:23).
When do we really begin to Live? When “Jesus” comes into my heart & replaces “self” on the Throne of my life. Then He becomes my “hope of Glory” (Col. 1:27). Ask yourself (and be honest): “Is my Life Self directed or Christ Directed?” We must give the LORD His rightful place in our Life.
Once I give the great “I AM” His rightful place in my life, I can finally begin the great adventure of finding out who “i am!” God is the Great “I AM.” I exist for His Glory! These Truths change my Prayer Life. I don’t begin prayer with: “Lord I need you to… (that makes me Lord!). I Humble myself & pray: “Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10).