On Tue, 11 Jul 1995 XXX wrote:
question:
In Ex 6 God said to Moses that He did not reveal his name Lord to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob but appeared to them as God Almighty, implying that He
would make His name Lord known.
Assuming that that revealing process took place in the wandering times,
why did God FIRST reveal his name "healer"? What is the significance of
this order?
....................................
There are a few points to consider [a FULL discussion can be found here: badyhwh6_NAME.html]:
2. In Ex 3.13f, God tells Moses to use the name 'Yahweh' on the elders of
Judah, that they will recognize and listen to that name...
3. In the Ex 3 passage, however, you get the sense that God is about to
'cement' this name into the minds of his people...the passage in 15 ("the
name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation") leads
us to believe something is about to happen vis-a-vis His name YHWH.
4. In the ex 6 passage, we get the difference...the 1st two verses do NOT
say 'I did not make my NAME known', but rather 'I did not make MYSELF
known to them AS YAHWEH'. In other words, His dealings with Abe was
'according the character of an El Shaddai' instead of 'according to the
character of a YAHWEH'. (The content of the name YAHWEH was about to be
revealed in the massive display of power, judgment and redemption called
the EXODUS!)...
The Hebrew actually has a preposition (beth) in front of the phrase El
Shaddai and Yahweh...it is technically called the BETH ESSENTIAE, with the
force of focus on the character of the name...see Zond Pict. Ency. Bible,
"Name": "In both instances it is the character or capacity of that name
that is in view, not the bare knowledge of the name as the label for this
person. Likewise, the 'name' also stood for his reputation, character,
and accomplishments in doctrine and deeds." (Notice how this last
sentence becomes the major focus of the exodus event--"God makes a Name
for Himself" as the redeemer and creator the nation of Israel.)
I do not know what your reference to 'healer' is about; YAHWEH itself means
only 'I am (present with you)' [best guess, the 'I am' is all we REALLY
know...the context suggests that His presence with the Israelites is the
issue]...or 'I exist (in contradistinction to the gods of Egypt)' [the
Hebrew construction 'I am, I am' generally means 'I CERTAINLY/Definitely
am'...technical term for the construction is "idem per idem"]
So, the name was known BEFORE exodus 3&6, but in the Exodus event God
pours 'intense, new content' into the phrase..."the Real and Only God,
who saves and is present with His people".
Hope this helps,
glenn