The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group has embarked on a study that has the potential to deepen our understanding of the very character and nature of God. As many of you know, names in the Bible are not merely labels; they reveal profound truths about who a person is.
These are the notes to session one as we start our study with who God says that He is; "I AM WHO I AM".
In Exodus 3:14, when Moses asks for God's name, God replies "I AM WHO I AM".
Exodus 3:13-15 NIV [13] Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name’ Then what shall I tell them?” [14] God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” [15] God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the 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, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
YHWH (Yahweh): The name Yahweh (represented by the four Hebrew letters YHWH, known as the tetragrammaton) is derived from the Hebrew verb "to be," which is the same root as "Ehyeh" ("I am"). The phrase "I am who I am" in Hebrew is "Ehyeh asher Ehyeh" Many scholars understand Yahweh to be the third-person form of this verb, meaning something like "He will be" or "He causes to be." When God says "Ehyeh asher Ehyeh" in Exodus 3:14, He then tells Moses in verse 15 to say to the Israelites, "The Lord (Yahweh), the God of your fathers... has sent me to you. This is my name forever." So, Yahweh is the divine name most closely linked to the meaning of "I am who I am."
Due to its sacredness, observant Jews traditionally do not pronounce it aloud and instead use titles like Adonai ("My Lord") or HaShem ("The Name"), and we will talk about these titles during our study
Most people say that I am who I am translated to Yahweh which is Hebrew or the English translation Jehovah.
The name Jehovah is a later (around the 13th century) English rendering of God's name. It originated from combining the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "Lord"). Therefore, while referring to the same divine name, "Jehovah" is not as directly tied to the original meaning of "I am who I am" as "Yahweh" is.
While "I am who I am" is related to God's name, it's not a direct translation of either YHWH or Jehovah. However, here's the connection:
The name Yahweh or Jehovah is considered God's personal name, signifying His self-existence and eternal nature. It's a name that emphasizes God's personal relationship with His people.
The name Yahweh is considered God's personal name, signifying His self-existence and eternal nature, often translated as "I am who I am" or "I will be who I will be." It's a name that emphasizes God's personal relationship with His people.
Many English Bible translations use the word "LORD" (often in all capital letters as "LORD" to distinguish it from "Lord" used for Adonai or other titles) to represent the name of God, Yahweh (or Jehovah).
The King James Version (KJV)
New International Version (NIV)
English Standard Version (ESV)
New King James Version (NKJV)
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
This practice stems from the ancient Jewish tradition of not pronouncing the sacred name out of reverence.
Isaiah 42:8: God declares, "I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images."
This verse emphasizes the uniqueness and exclusivity of God's name.
Psalm 145:21: The Psalmist proclaims, "My mouth shall speak the praise of Yahweh: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever."
This verse highlights the call to praise and bless God's holy name.
Psalm 86:9: "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Yahweh; and shall glorify thy name."
This scripture speaks to the universal recognition and glorification of God's name.
Psalm 68:4: "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him."
Here, "JAH" is a shortened form of Yahweh.
Based on scriptural accounts, particularly in the Judeo-Christian tradition, God reveals himself in several significant ways:
Through His Attributes: Throughout the Bible, God is described by His characteristics, which reveal His nature. Some key attributes include:
Love: (1 John 4:8 - "God is love")
Holy: (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8 - Set apart, morally perfect)
Merciful and Gracious: (Exodus 34:6 - Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness)
Just: (Deuteronomy 32:4 - Righteous and upright)
Faithful: (Deuteronomy 7:9 - Keeps His covenant and steadfast love)
Omnipotent (All-powerful): (Jeremiah 32:17, Revelation 19:6)
Omniscient (All-knowing): (Psalm 139:1-4, Hebrews 4:13)
Omnipresent (Present everywhere): (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:24)
Unchanging (Immutable): (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)
Creator: (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:28)
Through Titles: God is referred to by various titles that highlight different aspects of His relationship with humanity and His role: Lord, Father, Almighty (El Shaddai), Most High (El Elyon), Creator, Shepherd, Rock, Redeemer, Judge.
In Christianity - Through Jesus Christ: Christians believe that God revealed himself most fully in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus' "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John (e.g., "I am the bread of life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the way, the truth, and the life," "Before Abraham was, I am") are seen as direct claims to divinity, echoing the "I AM" of Exodus. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection are understood as the ultimate revelation of God's character, love, and plan for salvation.
In essence, God reveals himself as the self-existent, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, loving, holy, just, and faithful Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who desires a relationship with humanity.
Here are some key ways God describes Himself or is described in the Bible:
The One and Only God: God emphasizes His uniqueness and demands exclusive worship. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4). He also declares through Isaiah, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 45:5).
Creator: The Bible begins by identifying God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). This establishes His power, sovereignty, and ownership over all creation.
Merciful and Gracious: After the golden calf incident, God reveals His character to Moses: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin."1 (Exodus 34:6-7a).
Holy: God's separateness, otherness, and moral perfection are central. "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3). This holiness demands reverence.
Jealous: This isn't petty jealousy, but rather God's righteous zeal for His own honor and for the exclusive devotion of His people. He describes Himself as a "jealous God" in the Ten Commandments, particularly regarding idolatry (Exodus 20:5).
Love: The New Testament particularly emphasizes this attribute: "God is love." (1 John 4:8, 16). This love is demonstrated most profoundly, according to Christian belief, in the sending of Jesus.
Father: Jesus frequently referred to God as "Father," emphasizing a personal, caring, and authoritative relationship (e.g., Matthew 6:9 - The Lord's Prayer).
Savior / Redeemer: Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God acts to rescue and redeem His people, both physically and spiritually (e.g., Isaiah 43:11, Luke 1:47).
Light: "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5). This speaks to His purity, truth, and revelation.
These are just some of the ways God reveals His identity and character. Understanding who God says He is involves looking at the totality of His names, attributes, stated declarations, and actions as described in scripture.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment