- araratchurch
- Mar 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 26
“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 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.’”
Exodus 3:13-15 NKJV
Many people are familiar with the passage from “Romeo and Juliet” where Juliet is musing over the significance of a name. She basically comes to the conclusion that a name is unimportant, is arbitrary: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” You see, in their case, the name of Romeo (Montague) and the name of Juliet (Capulet) dictated that they be enemies, as there was a generational feud between their families.
Well, Juliet’s assessment is fine for a character in a play about “star-crossed” lovers. But just as we don’t believe that the stars determine our destiny, so too should we reject the notion that all names are essentially unimportant.
In fact, the Lord does not take a casual approach to a name.
Consider the fact that He, in placing Adam over the animals, gave Adam the authority to name them (Genesis 2:20). Adam, as the “namer,” held authority over the named.
As Jacob wrestled with the Lord, before parting ways with Him, Jacob asked what the Lord’s name was, with the Lord offering an interesting reply:
“Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.””
Genesis 32:29-30 NKJV
It sounds as though the Lord was reminding Jacob of his position of being subservient to that of the Lord. When we see Jacob’s tendency toward maneuvering, we might read into this response from the Lord the beginning of a process, ultimately resulting in Jacob—later renamed Israel by God—coming to understand God’s authority over him. In operation, this would mean that Jacob’s getting things through maneuvering, should not, could not, extend into his relationship with God.
Indeed, the name of the Lord contains all that He is. There is power in the name of the Lord!
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
We also know that God-Made-Flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, has been given a name with power over all things
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
In our opening scripture we find Moses, having been given a call to duty from the Lord, wonders what name he should use to present the Lord to the Hebrews.
In the Lord’s response we see that the He is not limited to one particular title, and indeed, in Him all things consist. Therefore, His name is best described as “I Am.”
We should also note that God repeatedly references Himself as a God of Covenant. In this case, mentioning His covenant by invoking the names of Abraham and Isaac. And, as we have discussed earlier in our journey with Moses (Day 6), God also came to be known as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Meditating upon all the titles we use to reference our Lord is good, reminding us of His greatness and the unlimited scope of His power. But, we know that our Lord Jesus made clear how we are to reference God in our direct communication with Him:
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”
Matthew 6:9 NKJV
We see two crucial components here concerning the name of our God: We see that for the child of God, He is known as our Father. As well we see that His name is holy.
Make no mistake, calling out any title of the Lord without truly being in relationship with Him, will ultimately do you no good. Consider what the sons of Sceva discovered the hard way:
“A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.”
Acts 19:13-16 NLT
But, for those who truly know Him, recognizing Who He is, His name is a source of refuge, healing, comfort, and power. Indeed, all we need is found in His name.
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
The Name of the Lord is not just a title; it is Who He is!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.””
Exodus 3:10-12 NKJV
For various reasons, I didn’t learn to drive a car until I was in my early 30s. This was after I was married and our sons were very young. It had gotten to the point that I really, really needed to be able to drive. The thing was, I was now fearful about taking the wheel.
Now, I had driven our car around in a pasture that was part of my father’s property. I wasn’t afraid to do that. It was being on the road with other cars that really presented the problem. And how many know that you can’t count on the roads being empty when setting out in your car?
I remember that I decided to try out a driving school. I looked for one boasting of cars with dual controls; I wanted to prepare for every contingency.
I remember that my instructor’s name was Mr. Hoose. Unfortunately, somehow or another, Mr. Hoose thought it good to bolster a learning driver’s confidence by taking them immediately out on the expressway. I found this out the hard way and was inwardly in full panic mode when I realized to where Mr. Hoose was directing me.
Looking down the expressway ramp (it might as well have been labeled, “slide into hell”), I saw that the expressway was basically open road. But that didn’t make any difference.
Making things worse, having found myself suddenly hurtling onto an expressway, having no idea of what I was doing, my fear caused me to do a couple of ridiculous things. For one, I turned on to the expressway rather than merging!
In the midst of this scenario, Mr. Hoose decides there is something he needs in the back seat. So, he turns around, backside forward, and begins digging for whatever it was he was seeking.
What good are dual controls, when I’m staring at my instructor’s rather ample kaki clad backside? Terror could best describe my state at this point.
You see, even though I knew that this man was trained to do what he was doing, even though I knew that he had the power to override what I was doing with his controls, his casual approach, left me feeling utterly and completely exposed and afraid. I didn’t trust my ability. And now, I didn’t trust his ability.
The rest of that story is that I did indeed learn to drive, but it really wasn’t because of a dual-control vehicle. It was because of my husband.
You see, one Sunday morning, as we were heading out for church, he went ahead of me to the car and got in the passenger seat. He then informed me, “You’re driving us to church.” I can clearly remember how afraid I was. But he seemed so confident (whether he really was, or not), that my fear was assuaged. I remember that drive so well; I drove down the road singing, “The King of Who I Am.”
It’s not wrong to want to know how you’re going to do something you’ve never done. It’s not wrong to plan or be prepared. But in terms of what God calls us to do, we must understand that it’s not about our ability; it’s about who He is and the fact that He has something much better than dual controls. Can’t He Who keeps all creation ticking along, make up for our weakness?
Of course He can! Our part is to submit to His control and to rest our confidence in Who He is, rather than trying to muster up confidence in our own ability. As the Lord once said to me: “Janet, I am not hurt by your weakness, nor helped by your strength.
David well describes the feeling of assurance we should experience in knowing that God is with us:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4 NKJV
Indeed, Paul, in expressing all the things he experienced and had to endure, was able to confidently make this bold proclamation:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Jesus explained in a very simple way concerning our complete dependency upon Him:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NKJV
Now, combining these two proclamations we can say: Because I live in Christ, I can deal with whatever I may face.
Today we find Moses basically asking the Lord, “Why me?” And, as we see, the Lord answers the question by saying that He would be with Moses. His presence with Moses would be enough.
Indeed, Moses went on to riddle the Lord with a series of questions concerning how he was going to do what God wanted him to do. And, because God is patient with our weaknesses, He answered every contingency Moses presented.
But, the point is, it wasn’t about Moses‘ ability. The call from God was the authority for Moses to do what he would do. And what the Lord ordains, He sustains.
Remember, when God calls us to do something, there’s nothing we could tell Him about ourselves He doesn’t already know.
Also remember, if God is with us, we need not fear.
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
If the Lord is with us, He is enough.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
“Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Exodus 3:6 NKJV
I have heard people referencing some countries as being “post-Christian.” Sadly, although we are not completely there yet, there are many forces pushing the United States in that direction.
Now, a post-Christian country is one started on—or came to be based on—Christian values. As such, official policy and public sentiment were informed by a Christian worldview. But then, sometimes gradually, at other times seeming to explode overnight, the Christian worldview—part of which is a respect for God’s word—is usurped by “new” values, often countenanced as “enlightened.”
We know that the imposition of a tyrannical government can definitely speed up the transition from a Christian nation to a post-Christian nation. But—more often than not—even the imposition of the godless government has been preceded by a drifting away from dependence upon the Lord and respect for His word.
One of the main reasons for this tragic shifting away from God, is assuming that Godly values are inherited. That is, there is the assumption that a relationship with God in one generation, assures a relationship with God in the next. It doesn’t.
We see numerous instances in the Word of God where the Lord instructs people—who then instruct other people—to tell their children about the Lord. They are instructed to tell their children what God has done lest they forget.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NKJV
Today we find the Lord introducing Himself to Moses as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
But think about it, there was actually a time when Jacob—who became “Israel”— knew the Lord only as the God of his fathers.
“And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.”
Genesis 28:13 NKJV
But there came a day when Jacob discovered that the God of Abraham and Isaac must become his God as well.
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.”
Genesis 28:20-21 NKJV
We know that Moses, having been raised—in part—by his own mother, would have heard about the Hebrew God. But now the time has come for God to go beyond being the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, to being the God of Moses; and did He ever!
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
The God of our fathers must become OUR God.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!