God had a name He’d been saving.
All 3 patriarchs knew Him, but there was a name they had never heard; a name for a redeemer and for a people about to be set free. It was Moses who needed to know God in a way they hadn’t.
“God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.” Exodus 6:2-3
What stirred the Apostle Paul after all he had seen and discovered of God to say: I want to know Christ?
Did he not already know Christ?
We know the truth that though we know God we also don’t.
Whenever God reveals Himself in the Bible story, He reveals His name, but this is not only an aspect of His character but that of His intention. Foretelling of the coming Messiah Jeremiah says “A king will reign wisely and do what is just and right, he will be called The Lord Our Righteousness” 23:5-6.
“This is who I am Jehovah Tsidkenu, but this is also what I intend to do.”
Exodus 6:1-3 I appeared as El Shaddai God Almighty but my name Lord/I AM/Yahweh I did not make known.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have never known this name but I am revealing it to you. I am God the redeemer.
Is it possible that you have carried around in your life a picture of God, a revelation of His nature and intention that has not changed since it was first revealed to you?
It is also possible for a whole church to be locked into one aspect of God’s nature eg. The judge. Judgment of sin occupies their preaching, their prayers and principles for ministry. But because of a lack of revelation of God they do not grow in grace, love and mercy.
As revelation changes so does our prayer life. We pray differently, expect differently, we step out in faith to do what we would never have done. We talk about God in ways that use a whole new vocabulary. And our world changes, our home, work or personal lives change. This is because God has given revelation of who He is and what He intends to do.
Revelation is never just information. It’s an invitation.
God doesn’t just want you to know His name. He wants you to know what He’s about to do.
So ask Him.
Missions Paul 