In the last post, we learned that God’s name, Yahweh, means “I will continue to be what I have always been.” Remember that God said this to Moses after introducing Himself to Moses, saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
What is Moses supposed to conclude about God from what God has said to him? Moses was so busy arguing his position that he didn’t fully grasp the impact of what he was hearing. It’s impossible to listen to God while we are resisting doing His will. What exactly is God saying to Moses, and to us?
He’s telling us to look at His record. He tells Moses to consider how He has related to Moses’ father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don’t know much about Moses’ father, but we have lots of information about God’s dealings with the others. Moses knew of God’s faithfulness to his father and to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He knew what God had promised them and the indisputable evidence that He had always kept His word to them. God’s record was one of marvelous grace, forgiveness, and provision. This was the record of the past, and what Moses could depend on in the task to which God was commissioning him. “I will continue to be what I have always been.”
God was telling Moses this: My name represents my character, who I Am, and who I will always be. It is interesting to note what God told Moses to say to the elders in Exodus 3:16. He did not instruct Moses to use the name Yahweh, but to say, ‘“The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me, saying, I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.'”
What are we to make of this? Does this minimize the importance of God’s name? No, but it does shift the emphasis to the character of God, what He is like, and what He has already done for Israel, as well as what He will continue to do for them.
What are some of the implications of God’s name for us? Do we need to use the name Yahweh when we pray or talk about God? I believe it is perfectly acceptable to use many different names or titles for God. Jesus tells us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven…” The term “God” is used repeatedly in Scripture to refer to Him. There is abundant use of the term “Lord” in Scripture as well. I use the name Jesus and the three terms just mentioned regularly when talking to or about Him.
I don’t think it matters to God which term or name we use to address Him, so long as we understand who it is we are talking to or about. Our attitude toward and appreciation of God’s character is what’s most important!
God’s name, or the title we use for Him, should be “holy” to us because He is holy. Holy means “set apart” or special. We are to have great respect for God because of His character. He is pure goodness and love. He is our creator and the sustainer of our lives. We are created in His image, but we are not equal to Him. We come before Him and speak of Him with reverence. He alone is God.
Because He alone is God, we are to worship Him alone, depending on His faithfulness to provide for us and guide us. The Lord addresses this very pointedly in the first commandment for the Israelites in Exodus 20:1-6. The specific prohibition is plainly stated as ” You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3.
To make an idol or god of anything or anyone is to violate God’s character, to diminish Who He is. He alone is to be worshipped.
It is not likely that you or I have a physical object we worship. That is one kind of idol, but is that the only way we can be guilty of idolatry? I think not; an idol can be anything or anyone we love more than we love God. If this is true, and I believe it is, there are numerous, perhaps countless ways we can relegate God to an inferior place in our lives. Our job or career, spouse, children, reputation, money, possessions, pride, accomplishments, and many other things can usurp God’s claim to first place in our lives.
God told Moses that He would continue to be what He had always been to his father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was making a strong statement about the faithfulness of His character. He alone is our God, and to seek ultimate peace and a sense of security from anything or anyone other than Him is a violation of His name and character.
Consider God’s name and what it implies for you. Are there things and people you may be putting before God and His will in your life? This may not be a concern for you, but I find this to be an ongoing challenge for me.