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specific directions -- see Jeremiah 44:26. No Genesis 21:33 where Abraham calls on "the
one today swears by the Sacred Name as a by- Everlasting God" (El 'olam). El Shaddai was
word, while the name of Jesus, which was understood to be "the Most High God, Creator
openly spoken, is one of the most frequently of Heaven and Earth," (Genesis 14:19). The
used expletives in our culture. Surely there is revelation of the Name YHVH at Sinai serves
some wisdom in the Jewish practice of using to capture these concepts in a single, mystical,
"HaShem" in public. It is not a title, such as awesome, Word.
"Lord," and yet it always reminds one that the
actual Name of God is intended. It also enables Much later, when Israel comes out of Egypt
one to respect Jewish sensitivities and enter and is gathered by Moses at Mt. Sinai, the dra-
into common dialogue and faith with those de- matic scene is set. God reveals Himself in His
vout ones of Israel upon whom YHVH clearly Shekinah Glory to the whole nation in an over-
has His mighty Hand. whelming display of power and glory, speak-
ing directly to them, and setting forth the Ten
"Knowing God," implies this fundamental Commandments. There is thunder, lightning,
revelation of God's Sacred Name, with all it clouds of smoke and fire, the piercing sound of
involves. It is a tremendous revelation, and a trumpet, and the whole mountain shakes. Fi-
once understood, can transform one's whole nally God Himself speaks in an audible voice
sense of who God is. Later God tells Moses: for all to hear. First, He identifies Himself: "I
am YHVH your God...you shall have no other
I am YHVH. I appeared to Abraham, to gods besides Me" (Exodus 20:1). The reaction
Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Saddai, but by of the people is terror. They call out to Moses,
My Name YHVH I did not make myself "You speak to us and we will hear; but let not
known to them (Exodus 6:2-3). God speak to us, lest we die!" (20:19). Forty
years later Moses reminds the Israelites of the
In Genesis 17:1; 28:3 and 35:11, where uniqueness and purpose of this great moment of
God declares "I am El Shaddai," it is usually revelation:
translated "God Almighty." It means "God of
protection," or literally, "God of the breast." For ask now of the days that are past, which
The Name YHVH does appear throughout the were before you, since the day that God
Genesis account, in dealings with all those created man upon the earth, and ask from
from Adam, through Noah, to Abraham and his one end of heaven to the other, whether such
family. Yet, according to this verse in Exodus, a great thing as this has ever happened or
these references are put in retrospectively. In was ever heard of. Did any people ever
other words, Genesis was written after the hear the voice of a god speaking out of the
revelation of the Name YHVH, and so the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and
Name appears when these accounts are subse- still live?...To you it was shown, that you
quently recorded in the time of Moses. It is in- might know that YHVH is God; there is no
teresting to note that the numerical value of the other besides Him. Out of heaven He let
name El Shaddai in Hebrew is 345, which is you hear his voice, that He might discipline
the same as the number of "HaShem" (the you; and on earth He let you see His great
Name). fire [Shekinah Glory], and you heard His
words out of the midst of the fire...know
Though the Name itself was not revealed to therefore this day, and lay it to your heart,
Abraham or those before him, the essential that YHVH is God in heaven above and on
meaning of that Name was known. Notice the earth beneath; there is no other

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