The Name of the only GOD
And Moses said unto ELOHIM, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel,
and shall say unto them, ‘The ELOHIM of your fathers hath sent me unto you’;
and they shall say to me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say unto them?
And ELOHIM said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM”: and he said, Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you.” And God said
moreover unto Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The
YHWH ELOHIM of your fathers, the ELOHIM of Abraham, the ELOHIM of Isaac,
and the ELOHIM of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this
is my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15)
What’s in a name? Today, names are used mainly as identifiers. We form letters that when pronounced together form a sound that makes music to our ears. But a long time ago, back in the days when time began, names meant something very significant to every person. A name evokes pictures of the character, authority and honor of a person. A name carries the very essence of a person. In those days, when the father names his child, he is in fact, prophesying the nature and character of his child which influences his future.
When we read the part of Scripture that enumerates the names of ancestors, we usually want to read fast or sometimes skip the passage in order to get to the meat of the message. But the HOLY SPIRIT wrote those names for a purpose. Let me show you an example. Please read Genesis 5:1-9 – the Generations of Adam. Let me shorten it by showing you the names and the meanings of each from ancient Hebrew:
Adam – man
Shet - appointed
Enosh - mortal
Kenan - sorrow
Mahalalel – The blessed GOD
Yered - shall come down
Hanoch – teaching
Methuselah – his death shall bring
Lemech – despairing
Noach - comfort or rest
Let’s put it all together: “Man appointed mortal sorrow (but) the blessed GOD shall come down teaching (that) his death shall bring (the) despairing comfort/rest.” YHWH ELOHIM preached the Gospel through the names of the generations of Adam showing men at that time and even today, that He really cares what happens to man and is willing to take the responsibility to save them.
To YHWH ELOHIM, names mean a lot. How would you like it if somebody calls you and yells, “Hey, John Doe!” or “Hey, whatsamacallit!” Would you respond? How would you feel? Would you even turn your head?
I don’t know what happened, but some people decided to delete the name of YHWH and substituted it with LORD in our translated Scriptures. As a linguistic rule in grammar, one never translates a proper name. If you’re an American, you probably have an American name; or maybe not, depending on your ethnic background. The fact of the matter is, whatever name you were given at birth, you don’t want somebody changing it for his own convenience. Sane people would consider that an insult or a racial slur!
But people who call themselves Christians do it to YHWH ELOHIM daily, even in their prayers! Many are convinced that it’s okay to change GOD’s name, anyway, they’re sure He would understand. I guess they don’t really take the commandments (particularly Ex 2:3,7) seriously; after all, it’s Old Testament rules and they really don’t apply to New Testament Christians. Or do they? If we are truly followers of YESHUA, we better understand that He followed the Torah (yes, all of it!) and if He did, then we should also. Otherwise, we can’t call ourselves, followers of YESHUA. Any serious man of the Word would tell you that the New Testament can only be understood in the light of the Old Testament.
Doesn’t it seem strange to you that translators changed the Name of YHWH into LORD but did not even make a notable change to the name of Satan? Somehow, some people succumbed to the influence of the enemy. Some quarters say that the Name is too holy to even utter. Well, all I can say is, if YHWH commanded that this is the Name that He should be known from generation to generation. Who am I to assume that He would be angry if I call Him by His chosen Name? Fear is not from YHWH but from the enemy. Anyone who loves YHWH is welcome to call on Him by His holy Name! The Name of YHWH is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and they are safe!(Prov 18:10)
When you pray, are you sure, you’re calling on the only true ELOHIM (GOD)? Or are you actually calling on an unknown god? You see, when you call YHWH, God, it is as if you’re relegating Him to the status of the pagan gods, because His Name, YHWH bears His exalted and honourable position and authority of omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. We often call Him Father, but are you sure you know the Father you are calling?
The Scriptures, first mentioned the Name, YHWH in Genesis 2:5 when He was causing life to come out of the earth. Especially in relation to forming and molding Adam, YHWH’s (the One who causes to be) nature was manifested in the human whom he fashioned according to His own image and likeness. No wonder many who profess to believe, do not really appreciate who they are in YHWH because they don’t even call on the Name by which they are patterned after. How can they be in union with their Father whom they don’t really know? As the Scriptures say, “How can two walk together if they be not of one mind?”
Well, some might say, “We are in union with JESUS!” Don’t you know? YESHUA (the one you call Jesus) always glorifies the Father and only does and says what the Father wills. The Father has given Himself a name that is exalted above all – YHWH – by which He shall be known from generation to generation.
If your name is like music to your ears, so is the Name of our ELOHIM to His ears. Rest assured, “Whoever calls on the Name of YHWH will never be disappointed!”
So, let me ask you, have you been disappointed in your prayers?
מלאך
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