The Name Of God

Listen to the audio version here.

Overcoming Fear And Anxiety

Last year on January 18th, almost one year ago today, I tested positive for Covid. With my other previous medical issues, I was fearful this would trigger a flare up. I shared little about that experience publicly, but it was awful. I ended up in the emergency room twice. To keep it simple, it is something I never want to go through again.

This past week, the Omicron variant surged through our schools (where I work). We went from a few cases per day to one day, having fifty-five new cases in just one school. Everyone I worked with was getting it. Omicron does not seem to care about vaccines or natural immunities, it just comes on head strong.

Anxiety set in and festered inside me. I did not want to go to work. Fear of getting Covid again was causing me so much stress. One morning as I drove to the school, I turned on the radio. A Christian station was the first to come on with their morning show. I am not one for hearing the banter of the DJs and almost switched it off.

The Power In The Name Of Jesus

Before hitting the power button, I heard the Dj say, “Sometimes we forget the power of the name of Jesus.” She continued with something like, “When we face fear and anxieties, we need to remember the power in the name of Jesus. Just saying it over and over can quiet our hearts.”

"The name of Jesus can calm storms, make demons flee, and heal the sick. Saying His name can calm our anxieties and bring peace." Click To Tweet

Oh, how I needed that reminder. The name of Jesus can calm storms, make demons flee, and heal the sick. Each time during the day that I would feel the anxiety rise, I would begin saying the name of Jesus and peace would fill me.

The Name Of God

The names of God are the most powerful names we can know. They teach us about who He is. Genesis gives us several names of God, but Exodus chapter three is the first place God says His name.

In Exodus three, we find Moses tending the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro. While doing this, he notices a flaming bush and even though it was on fire; it did not burn. Out of curiosity, Moses walks closer and from the bush he hears, “Moses, Moses.”

Holy Ground

The voice instructs Moses to take off his sandals, for he is on holy ground. The Hebrew word her for holy is קֹדֶשׁ qōdeš and means set apart and dedicated to God. This burning bush is a holy place filled with the presence of our almighty God.

The Lord continues speaking to Moses, saying, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:7-8 NIV).

The conversation continues, and God instructs Moses, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharoah to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10 NIV).

Moses gives his best arguments and asks, without yet agreeing, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13 NIV).

I Am Who I Am

“I Am Who I Am” is the name God gives to Moses. In verse fifteen, God says, “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”

There are several things incredibly powerful about this moment.

It is the first time God gives Himself a name. The name in Hebrew, for “I Am Who I Am” is יהוה YHWH or, as we know it, Yahweh.

The first and third letter, the Hei ה represents the breath of God, His still small voice, and God’s presence. It also makes a word take on a feminine form. You can read more about the Hei here.

Fun fact: Yahweh in Hebrew takes on a feminine form, and Elohim in Hebrew takes on a masculine form.

The second letter the Vav ו teaches of connecting the spiritual to the physical, or you could say it connects humanity to Heaven. Some scholars say it binds the Creator with His creation. Read more on the Vav here.

The Yod י means intimacy, hand, power, or to look heavenward. The letter is small but powerful. You can read more about Yod here.

יהוה YHWH – Yahweh

Putting these letters together gives us a beautiful picture of God. An all-consuming, merciful, nurturing God that surrounds us with His presence. One who reaches down from Heaven to draw us closer. With a simple whisper, He intimately draws our eyes and hearts heavenward.

The name Yahweh reminds me of Genesis 2:7, which says God breathed life into man. When you speak the name Yahweh, you mostly use your breath. Imagine this, the breath that was used to create man is the sound we offer back when we say His name.

Another thought I once heard about this from Chaim Bentorah is that God knew Moses was “slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10 NIV). Many would say he spoke with a stutter. So when God provided this name, He gave a name that Moses could articulate.

It is scriptures like these that make me more and more in awe of God. Not only did He give us a personal name to call Him, He also saw the needs of His people and was stepping in to rescue them.

God constantly attempts to draw us closer and whisper to our hearts. I want to remind you, as I remind myself, always keep your heart, eyes and ears open to what He might try to present to you.