Exodus 6 – May 9

When we read through the Old Testament, there are often occasions when many years pass by between chapters or between events. For that reason, it can sometimes be easily overlooked just how rare it is that the Lord God actually communicates verbally with people. When we were reading through Genesis, there were seven conversations between the Lord and Abraham, but they took place over the course of 37 years. Now that we have come to the life of Moses, we are going to see the incredible privilege that the Lord gave to him by communicating with both regularity and intimacy. For the remainder of the Torah, God is going to speak to Moses verbally with a consistency not seen with anyone else in the Bible.

When Exodus chapter 6 begins, God highlights this blessing by stating, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.” The word that is translated into English as ‘Lord’ here is the word YAHWEH or as some people call it, Jehovah. That name is the often the title that the Lord will use as His self-designation. In some translations of the Bible, whenever the name YAHWEH is used, it will appear as the fully capitalized word LORD. This name is called sometimes called the tetragrammaton.

The good news for all who are in Christ is that we have a personal relationship with the LORD. Jesus Christ Himself picked up this identifying name in its Greek form and on at least nine occasions referred to Himself as the LORD. The same God that had a close and intimate relationship with Moses in the wilderness was born to live amongst us, as one of us. He identified with mankind by taking on flesh and making His temporary home here. The relationship that Moses had with the Lord pales in comparison to what we have been given through Christ. Because of the cross, all who have believed the gospel are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. God takes up permanent residence within us. He communes with us in more than words. He abides in us. What is even more incredible is that this same LORD has promised that He is going to bring us to His home.