Yesterday we started the New Year thinking about the name of Jesus. That got me to thinking about how important God’s Name has always been, even before we came to know Him as “Jesus.”

In the Old Testament, God had not yet revealed Himself to man as one of us, as the God-man Jesus. But He had nonetheless told man who He is. He first revealed His name to Moses. You remember the story. God comes to Moses to tell him that he will be the one to lead the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. Moses tries to get out of that job, but without much luck. So He says to God, “Pharoah will want to know what your name is, God. What should I tell him?” God’s answer: YAHWEH. That is a Hebrew word that means “I AM.” Tell Pharoah “I AM” sent you. That name of God, YAHWEH, which is sometimes rendered as JEHOVAH in English, is translated in the Old Testament as LORD in all capital letters. That is God’s name in English, the one in this passage from Numbers:

NUMBERS 6:22-27   The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.  Say to them:  “The LORD bless you and keep you;  the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ‘  So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

God’s name, the great I AM, is actually placed upon you each time your hear that Benediction. Who He is, what He has done, salvation from His grace, all of this and more is placed upon you in this blessing from God. You are God’s chosen people in Christ, and you are to be identified with who your God is. For that reason, God puts his name on you.

Merry Ninth Day of Christmas!