July 10, 2016
Welcome to Truth for Summer Sunday…And Everyday
YAHWEH…I AM WHO I AM…
Will BE Known By all Generations
“God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM. And He said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
“…This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” Exodus 3:14-15
The Truth is that He wants to be Known…He wants you to know Him…He wants your precious ones to Know Him, and, He desires for every generation to know Him by name! The Great Almighty God, appeared to Moses at the appointed time…and HE introduced Himself to him, He gave His NAME…so Moses would know Him, so the Israelites could know Him, with the intention that all generations will know Him by name!
SO THEY WILL KNOW
We can know of a person, we can know about a person, but we can never have a relationship until we take the first step. The first step of initiating and establishing a relationship typically begins with the introduction of the persons and the sharing of their names. Our names are one of the first things we learn as a child. Children take great pleasure in learning to spell and to write the names, which has been lovingly chosen for them. I love watching my grands as they learn to write their names…faces beaming when they create their masterpiece. Their name represents them and they know it!
Names identify, differentiate, personalize, individualize. I can only imagine how Moses must have felt when he heard his name called in the wilderness of Mt. Sinai, on the Mountain of God. Twice, his own name was spoken from the bush engulfed in flames…the bush which did not burn up. And in this encounter with the God of his Father, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob…YAHWEH, introduced Himself to Moses, calling him by name and telling Moses HIS NAME…I AM. The God of the Israelites gave His Name, which identified and differentiated Him from the polytheistic cultures; THE NAME which personalized Him, and individualized Him…for Moses, and for all people.
SO THEY WILL KNOW
Recently, a pastor of a prison ministry shared with me what he discovered during his weekly prison visits. Connection with the men was difficult and challenging, but the pastor began to make a concerted effort to learn the names of the 300 men who were housed in the facility…and he began to call them by name and to introduce himself to each one as he encountered them. Over a period of time, he established a friendship, and built a relationship of trust with most of them. Through these relationships which continued to grow, the pastor began to pray with the men, and soon found himself having weekly and power-filled prayer time with the group at the request of the inmates.
The pastor knew that his connection with the men could point them toward their Almighty God, he could tell them about God, he could model God’s ways, but only they could choose to have a personal, intimate relationship with God; but it began with an introduction…it began with the sharing of names…SO THEY WOULD KNOW.
The GOD…I AM WHO I AM desired relationship with His chosen people, and He communicated this to Moses through their intimate relationship, beginning with an introduction. Certainly Moses knew about YAHWEH…but the personal encounter with the Living God changed everything. Moses obeyed Him, and walked with Him, and served Him. Years later, when Moses, who was referred to as ‘servant of the LORD’, died in the presence of His faithful LORD, we are told in Deuteronomy 34, “THE LORD buried Moses…and there has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” …Beginning with an introduction…and names…
The Names of God reveal who He is…His Name helps us to identify, differentiate, personalize, and individualize Him…because there is no other!
“There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your mighty and powerful name.” Jeremiah 10:6
So… ALL GENERATIONS WILL KNOW
“…This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” Exodus 3:14-15
Today, on this Summer Sunday:
Tell your children and all those you love, this wonderful news. The God I AM WHO I AM wants to be known by you and by those you love, your precious ones. He also spoke His intention that HIS NAME was for all generations…for all people, and it was His Eternal Name, it should be remembered. He wants to speak to you through His Word, and His Revelation through His Spirit…through JESUS CHRIST. Tell your precious ones SO THEY WILL KNOW! SO THEY WILL REMEMBER!
Click below for this week’s Daily Devotions
Sunday Blessings!
