June 28th

The most personal name for God is Yahweh, and we are introduced to the name, Yahweh, at the burning bush when God told Moses that he would be the one God would use to lead the Hebrew slaves from the bondage of slavery in Egypt (read Exod. 3).  

The task of leading the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt from the bondage of slavery was impossible, and Moses understood just how impossible it was.  Moses also rightly understood that he was not qualified for the role God called him into. However, what Moses did not fully comprehend was that it was Yahweh who was with him; that is the self-existent, creator, sustainer, unchanging, and eternal God would be the one who would ultimately free his people from what seemed to be an impossible situation.  Yahweh is the God who rescues and redeems the helpless.  This is the story of the Bible.  Jesus said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:17).  Why did Jesus come?  He told us why: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost(Luke 19:10). 

As you read your Bible, what you will discover in the Old Testament is the way God is addressed; one way He is addressed is Lord which in Hebrew is ʾā·ḏôn and it simply means master and is used to refer to God as the Sovereign One.  The other way God is referred to in the Bible is LORD which in Hebrew is Yahweh, which has been and continues to be considered Gods most sacred Name.  One of the places in the Bible Yahweh is used is found in Isaiah 45:21-23,

Declare and present your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this long ago? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.  I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.

As we continue to make our way through Ephesians each Sunday morning, I will choose a different name used of God from the Bible in each weekly eLetter.  I will select some of the names used of God for the purpose of encouraging you as you consider what it means to be chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4-6), redeemed by His only Son (1:7-12), and sealed by the Holy Spirit as Gods inheritance (1:13-14).  Today, I want you to be encouraged by the reality that Yahweh has redeemed you (read Philippians 2:5-11).

I look forward to worshiping our awesome God together with you this Sunday in our 9:00 and 10:30 AM worship services.

Grace,

Pastor Keith