A few chapters earlier, when God told Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Moses asked for a name. In response, God told Moses to tell the people that “I AM” sent you.
That name carries a lot of weight. It’s ambiguous, but also precise. It’s generic, but authoritative. It tells little about God, but also tells us everything.
God is big on names, since names are what give identity and meaning to entities. For that reason, when He chooses to address His people, He may sometimes be referred to as El-Shaddai (“God Almighty”), Elohim (“the Creator”), Jehovah-Jireh (“The Lord Our Provider”), or any one of several more names found throughout the Old Testament.
In Exodus 6:3, God revisits this principle by saying that in the days of the patriarchs, God was known to them by “God Almighty.” Now, God says, He will make Himself known as “Lord,” which He claims was not how He made Himself known to previous generations.
But what does that mean? Clearly, the name Lord or Yahweh is used extensively throughout the book of Genesis – almost 160 times, to be exact. What does God mean when He says that He didn’t make Himself known like that?
The most convincing argument I’ve heard (of which there are many) is that the original Hebrew paints this as a rhetorical question. In other words, instead of God saying that He “hasn’t” made Himself known as Lord, He is saying “Have I not made Myself known to them as Lord?”
That’s a possibility, but I’m not knowledge enough in ancient languages to parse that out one way or the other. I do think that there are a couple of ways in which God’s manifestation in Exodus is different than the one in Genesis.
First, most of God’s relationships in Genesis was to individuals. It talks about God having communication with Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and others, but not as much to groups of people. In Exodus, He will be seen—and known—by everyone, especially the Israelites.
Second, whereas Genesis paints God as the originator of the covenant (with Abraham), Exodus shows God as the maker of the Law. Eventually, He will commune with Moses at the top of Mt. Sinai and deliver the Law directly to Moses, telling them exactly what they need to do in service to Him.
That’s a big deal, because with Law comes authority. God isn’t just “God Almighty” anymore, demonstrating His power. Now, He is “Lord,” rightful Ruler over all, demanding loyalty to His Throne.
Those differences might be negligible you, but to me, they represent a pretty big shift in thinking for God’s people.
What do you think is happening here? Feel free to let me know at brady@coffeeandaBible.com!
