Lord (Yahweh)

The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with [Moses] there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh. Then the Lord passed in front of [Moses] and proclaimed: Yahweh--Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.

Exodus 34:5-6a HCSB

Yesterday, we looked at God as Elohim, or Creator. Our Creator is involved in every aspect of his creation. The painting, The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, depicts God reaching down from heaven touching Adam, fingertip to fingertip--the perfect, divine Creator initiating a personal relationship with his creation. 

Years later, God reached out to Moses, hand-picking him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses asked God for his name in case the Israelites asked him. God...said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘[Yahweh], the God of your fathers...has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation (Exodus 3:15).” 

Yahweh (also written as YHWH or Jehovah) is considered to be the personal name for God. The Creator of everything invites you and me to really know him--intimately, personally. One on one. It is like God is saying to us, “Call me Yahweh. Let’s get to know each other. Let me tell you about myself.”

In Exodus 34:5-6, God shared more than his name; he shared its meaning. Yahweh is compassionate, gracious, not quickly angered, loving, faithful, truthful and forgiving. These are intimate, relational words.

He sees; he cares. [Yahweh] said, “I have seen the misery of my people...and I have heard them crying out…. I know how much they are suffering (Exodus 3:7 GW).

Ladies, amid the dangers of the COVID-19 crisis, the uncertainty of the economy, the heartbreaking racial tensions, and pressures in our daily lives, remember Yahweh. 

Yahweh, we are part of the generation to generation you speak of in Exodus 3:15. Thank you for revealing your name and characteristics. We praise you for being loving, compassionate, and forgiving.

Terri