Exodus 3:14-15 – And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord 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 this is My memorial to all generations.’”
In praying about this new year, the Lord began to speak to me about three things, covenant, commitment, and commissioning. In the Word of God, the number 26 is the numerical equivalent of the name of God in Hebrew. It is the sum of the Hebrew letters, YHWH. Yod = 10, Hei =5, Vav = 6, Hei = 5 = 26. This is the personal name of God. In English we add vowels and get the names, Yahweh or Jehovah.
When God reveals His name to Moses in Exodus 3:14–15, He identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM.” The phrase “I AM WHO I AM” in the Hebrew text carries multiple shades of meaning, including “I will be what I will be” or “I am the One who is.” It conveys the idea of God’s self-existence and absolute independence from creation. The name Yahweh (YHWH) is closely connected to this concept. Its root resonates with the Hebrew verb “to be,” revealing that God is the ultimate Being, subject to no other force or authority. (i)
In Exodus 3:15 the Lord identifies Himself to Moses as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” David Guzik writes, “God revealed Himself to Moses by declaring His relationship to the patriarchs. This reminded Moses that God is the God of the covenant, and His covenant with Israel was still valid and important. This wasn’t a ‘new God’ meeting Moses, but the same God that dealt with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”(ii)
The name Yahweh or Jehovah is the covenant name of God. It is not a title, but the personal name of God. It carries meanings like, He is the Self Existent One, The Eternal One, The One Who was, Who is, and Who will be. He is the covenant keeping God.
In Hebrews 8:6 we learn that we have a better covenant, which was established on better promises. We need to understand our covenant and the promises God has made to us in His Word. As you make a commitment to study the Scriptures this year you will grow in your walk and relationship with the Lord.
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