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Refreshment in Refuge

    by Gina Burgess

Why did Moses Need a Name for God?
Date Posted: June 15, 2014

Have you ever wondered why Moses asked God, "What name shall I give the Israelites when they ask?"

Perhaps it is simply that names connotated character or aspects of a person.

" 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.' " Exodus 3:14

YHWH -- self sufficient, I AM, no beginning, no end, eternal, infinite, forever. LORD God. A lesson that not only the Israelites and Egyptians needed to hear.

Several places we find YHWH written before the word 'ĕlôhı̂ym which is translated God, but is actually the word Gods, plural (in Hebrew im is the same as adding s to mean plural). I never thought about it before, but if you read it translated, it is Self-existent, self-sufficient God. Hebrew lexicons tells us that Elohiym means that God is intensified, while other scholars say that it is an obscure reference to the Trinity.

When God told Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob He was preaching a huge sermon. He was saying He is the living God of humans that had lived and were living. God testified that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive. He did not explain then or later, but God assured Moses that physical death was not the end of the person who believed in Him.

Instead of a god of stone or wood, the Israelites would be freed by the one and only God who is I AM. The name to a Hebrew is all important.

In Numbers 13:16 we see something amazing happen. These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua. NKJV

The Message puts it this way: Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land. Moses gave Hoshea (Salvation) son of Nun a new name--Joshua (GOD-Saves).

God made sure Joshua knew that God was doing the work, not men. Such a small verse but such a huge message.


Read more: http://refreshmentrefuge.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-did-moses-need-name-for-god.html#ixzz34jjntHZQ
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Biography Information:

Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.

She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.

If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon

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