GOD: WHAT IS HIS NAME?

In Exodus 3:13 (ESV), Moses asks God a profound question:

“If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

Moses understood something important: names matter. A name reveals identity, authority, and character. So Moses asks, “Who are You?”  God responds by revealing Himself in a way unlike any other:

“I AM WHO I AM.”

“Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

God reveals Himself as “I AM” the self-existent, eternal, sovereign God.  In essence, God was declaring: “I am sufficient. I am enough.”  I AM means:

• I am not dependent on anyone

• I am not limited by time

• I am not constrained by circumstances

  
  

God was revealing His absolute sovereignty and authority over all creation.  This is the nature of our God.  He is able.

Throughout history, God revealed His nature and character through His various names. Each name teaches us who God is and how He relates to His people.  Below are just a few of those names and meanings:

• He's called Elohim: Creator God in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”

• He’s called Adonai: Lord God, which exalts his sovereignty.  In Genesis 15:2 it states, “And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?"

• He’s called El Elyon: The most high God exalting his authority over the universe .  In Psalm 17:2 it states, “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”

• He’s called El Olam: The everlasting God exalting His eternal reign.  In Deuteronomy 33:27 it states, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them”

• He’s called El Shaddai: God Almighty exalting His might and ability to protect His people.  In Genesis 17:1 it states, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty…”

• He’s called Immanuel: God with us expressing His presence amongst His people.  In Matthew 1:23 it states, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”

God assures us that He has the capacity, power, ability and authority to do what ever He wills.  God let’s us know who He is this through His names.  However He goes further than that, He lives out what His names declare as we experience Him through our relationship with God.

Because He is I AM:

• He is the Creator

• He rules with absolute sovereignty

• He possesses all authority

• He reigns forever

• He protects His people

• He remains present with His people

• He is able to meet every need

No matter what we are facing:  fear, uncertainty, hardship, or lack, our God is sufficient.  He is more than enough!!!

He has the power, the authority, and the ability to intervene because He is God.

GOD is everything His people need, at all times.