YAHWEH - God's New Name and Character

This weeks Parashat begins with this verse:

Exodus 6:2-4
'And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM)—‘the Lord .’ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’ —but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM), to them. And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under it’s terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. ‘

If you go back and read in Genesis you will see where Abraham called God by the name of Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM). What is really being said here when you go back to the Hebrew is that God did not reveal the character of His name Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM).

God introduces Abraham to His name El-Shaddai — God Almighty in Genesis 17:1-11

'When Abram was 99 years old, Adonai appeared to Abram, and He said to him, “I am EL SHADDAI. Continually walk before Me and you will be blameless. My heart’s desire is to make My covenant between Me and you, and then I will multiply you exceedingly much.” Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him, saying, “For My part, because My covenant is with you, you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer will your name be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I make you the father of a multitude of nations. Yes, I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings will come forth from you. ‘ 'Yes, I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, in order to be your God and your seed’s God after you. You must be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this will become a sign of the covenant between Me and you. This is My covenant that you must keep between Me and you and your seed after you: all your males must be circumcised. God also said to Abraham, “As for you, My covenant you must keep, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. I will give to you and to your seed after you the land where you are an outsider —the whole land of Canaan—as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” '

Prior to this point in scripture we are told that people walked with God such as Enoch and Noah. Here God changes how Abraham is to walk with Him. He now desires for Abraham to walk in front of Him. Why would God want to change the way Abraham walks with God at this point in time? God is making a new covenant with Abraham, one where God changes Abraham’s name. This is also where the sign of the covenant is given circumcision. God has made a promise to Abraham that Abraham will never see in his lifetime. God is telling Abraham to walk in front of Him as God propels Abraham and his lineage into the future God has planned for them. This promise is a long term promise that can only come to pass if Abraham and his offspring walk before the Lord. They must sense God behind them as He pushes them into position.

This is also the beginning of the sheep reference for God’s chosen people. The Shepherd always leads his flock from behind. He uses the weaker slower part of the flock to push the faster stronger sheep ahead. This way the Shepherd always has his eyes on the entire flock. He can see danger before it comes close to the sheep. The Shepherd bumps the sheep in the rear of the flock with his staff in the direction he desires the flock to go. The sheep he bumps then bumps the one in front of them and so on like dominoes falling. By leading the sheep this way the Shepherd guides the sheep along the path that he choses, allowing them to think they are in control. At the same time the Shepherd is guarding the rear, not allowing any attacks on his flock.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saw miracles individually. They saw the manifestation of EL-SHADDAI — God Almighty. Abraham has a child when his and Sarah’’s bodies were no longer capable of having one. Isaac sowed in famine and God gave him a 100 fold return. Jacob’s wages were changed 10 times, but God prospered him every time. God took Laban’s wealth and gave it to Jacob. They saw the ALMIGHTY personally as they walked before Him like sheep.

Now this weeks Parashat says that God is going to reveal Himself as Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM). Here God says I am not just EL-SHADDAI — God Almighty who takes care of one family who I watch over from behind. This is no longer about a chosen person it is now about the birth of a Nation.

God takes the most unqualified person who can’t even speak without stuttering. He places him is Pharaohs palace and has him made demands of the the King. The King is infuriated and makes life hard on the Israelites. This was God’s plan all along. God is pushing His people out of their comfort zone of relying on the government to supply all their needs. God made the Israelites stink to the Egyptians to drive a wedge between them. God’s desire was to take all of Egypt out of Israel.

God then allows the 1st, 3 plagues to affect everyone in Egypt. The water turned to blood, frogs invaded every area of Egypt and gnats tormented everyone. God then draws a line between His people and Pharaoh’s. God tells Pharaoh that Goshen will be spared from here on out to prove to Pharaoh that God is supreme. Flies begin to torment all of the Egyptians. God takes out Egypt’s livestock and the people are covered in boils. God then has Hail rain down and destroy all the crops of Egypt. God then sends Locusts to eat up anything left in Egypt. Darkness covers all of Egypt and then the Death Angel comes and takes every 1st born in Egypt.

These events are catastrophic on a national level. God is showing the whole world that He is Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM). He is the strong and powerful arm. He is in control of everything and sets the boundaries of where the plages begin and end.

Pharaoh finally concedes and lets the Israelites go. However God hardened his heart one more time and Pharaoh gave pursuit to bring the Israelites back. As the Israelites were on their way the Lord appeared in front of them and lead the way.

Exodus 13:20-22
'The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.’

God is no longer just EL-SHADDAI — God Almighty who leads from behind, but now He is Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM) the Lord who leads the way. God is showing and manifesting His presence on the earth and no one will be able to deny it.

Even though God revealed Himself as the God who leads from the front He still has your back He is the God that protects you from all sides.

Exodus 14:19-20
'Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.’

What I believe is happening now is God is separating nations from one another. He is looking for the sheep nations who love Him. He is also looking for the ones who love Him around the world who are not in the sheep nations. God is going to manifest Himself as Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hey) (I AM THAT I AM) to our generations who have not known Him this way. We will no longer know Him just by the words written about Him in the Bible but we will experience personally the power of His Lordship. The Kingdom is coming and you must get ready for the take over. God says now is the time for His people to rise up and do great exploits in His Mighty Name. This time should excite ever true believer in Christ. We are on the verge of the Great Awakening and Kingdom Reset. Keep the Faith, Pharaoh would have you think he owns you. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are free and no one can ever own you.

Written by Chris James