Have you ever wondered what God’s Name “YAHWEH” means (translated “the LORD” in most Bibles)?
“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name YAHWEH I did not make myself fully known to them.” (Ex 6:3)
To understand the meaning of this name of God we must first examine the context. The immediate context is Ex 5:22-6:28. Then it is expanded upon in subsequent chapters in Exodus.
The initial meaning
Firstly, Ex 5:22-23 introduces this revelation of God about His Name “YAHWEH” that He had not revealed to the Patriarchs. Moses is complaining to God because he has spoken to Pharaoh in His Name and instead Pharaoh has oppressed them even more and God has not delivered His people. So God responds to this by revealing His Name, “YAHWEH” (6:2). Then He says that “I am YAHWEH” and defines this as the God who will bring deliverance and redemption so that He can be with His people:
“I am YAHWEH, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am YAHWEH your God” (Ex 6:6-7)
Not just for the Israelites
Secondly, this revelation is not just for the Israelites but Pharaoh himself and therefore his officials and all they had contact with: “And the Egyptians will know that I am YAHWEH when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it” (7:5, 8:10). So God wanted the Gospel of redemption to be made known to the Egyptians as well. In another form, God was saying, “I am YAHWEH who delivers His people to worship me”.
The breadth of God’s vision
Thirdly, Ex 9:16 reveals yet another layer of incredible vision, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you (Pharaoh) my power and that my Name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” God wanted to spread this revelation of His name all over the earth.
El Shaddai proclaimed God as the covenant keeping God (Ex 6:2-4) to one family. Now He reveals who He is: the God of redemption and relationship. So the basis of the Gospel was clear even in the O.T.