TEACHINGS FROM GOD | 01 | Revelation is Key
Every Christian needs God's revelation in their lives.
Hello there,
We are at the door of the last quadrimester in 2022 and in all things, the Lord has been faithful to preserve us. Forever glory to His name!
Today’s lesson is taken from the book of Exodus. In a general sense, Exodus tells of the liberation of Israelites from the bondage and slavery of Egypt, as well as the enactment of God’s laws that governed their ways of life. Let us then consider our root passage and discover what the Lord has to say.
Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord. – Exodus 6:1-8, KJV
These verses reflect God’s promise of deliverance, redemption, judgment for the Egyptians as well as remembrance of His covenant with Israel’s forefathers. This teaching will focus on the second and third verses of this text.
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord:
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Background
It is not news that Abraham is the father of the faith. Scripture shows us that he obeyed God’s call to leave his country [Genesis 12] and sojourn to where he later knew to be Canaan. Isaac, his son had a personal encounter with God [Genesis 26] during a time of famine after his father’s death. Jacob, Isaac’s son also had a life-changing experience when God revealed Himself to Him at Bethel [Genesis 35:9-15]. In various moments, these men had known God as El-Shaddai (the All-Sufficient One, the Double-Breasted One).
It is imperative to note that the Bible was not originally written in English. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, while the New Testament was written in Greek & Aramaic (which was a native Hebrew dialect of some Jews at that time). Think of it as any of the major ethnic groups of Nigeria that have a general tongue (perhaps Yoruba or Igbo) but also possess their native dialects (e.g. Egba, Ijebu, Abakaliki, Owerri). Understanding this fact of the initial language of the Bible is crucial to gaining more insight into the third verse of our root passage.
Same God, Different Revelations of Himself
Christianity affirms the existence of three persons in one God. It is evident from Scriptures that each divine person of the Trinity has and continues to be present in affairs of the universe; at creation [Genesis 1], baptism of Jesus at river Jordan [John 1:29-33], the river of life that flows from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem [Revelation 22:1] to name a few.
In Exodus 6:2-3, God establishes Himself as the Lord. The actual Hebrew word translated (as Lord) is ADONAI, which literally means Master and implies God as having all rulership and dominion. This name (Adonai), which Jews used as a vocal replacement for YHWH (pronounced as Yahweh today) is what was translated as JEHOVAH; the same name Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew not God by.
At this point, you may be wondering – isn’t it the same God? Why does He have many titles? What is the purpose of this emphasis in His names and how people knew Him?
To answer these, we must establish that the Lord God is a God of immeasurable depth and magnitude. God is not man who is limited. He accomplishes His purposes in many ways. He is very dynamic yet constant; God never changes but cannot be put into a box. Knowing these helps us draw specific lessons from His charge to Moses:
God has multiple attributes and aspects to Himself
He reveals Himself to those who seek Him diligently
Every believer should desire revelation of (from) God
God determines what and how He is to be revealed to men
God Has Multiple Attributes
The writer of Hebrews begins his book by establishing the fact that God spoke to our ancestors in the faith in diverse manners. This is one of many parts of Scripture that affirm God possesses many attributes and interacts with His people according to His sovereignty.
In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets… - Hebrews 1:1, AMPC.
In the root passage, it was clear that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew God as the All-Sufficient One, the God who had blessed and multiplied them with abundant riches and prosperity. However, they had never experienced Him as a God who redeems from distress, especially through mighty acts and miracles. They had known Him as a God who prospers and provides, but not one who delivers.
God Reveals Himself to Those Who Seek Him Diligently
Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have received access to God. This relationship that begins at the New Birth must be constantly nurtured and nourished. God has promised to make Himself known to those who put in efforts to seek Him through constant fellowship with His Son and His Word.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6, NKJV
The Israelites had cried out to God for help which He acknowledged to Moses during their encounter at Horeb. [Exodus 3: 1-10] God responded to their call and used Moses as His instrument to deliver His chosen people from Pharaoh’s oppression. From this, we learn that when we fervently seek God in any situation of our lives, He is ever faithful to make His power and name known to us.
Every Believer Should Desire a Revelation of God
Our knowledge of God increases as we walk progressively with Him. Just as relationships begins with two people taking interest in themselves and learning more about each other through frequent interactions, so also is it with us and God. The more we seek Him in His Word and fellowship with Him through prayer and worship, the more God shows us about His character and person. Gradually, we begin to grow intimately and experience Him in various ways as we continue on life’s path.
It is quite easy to become comfortable in our relationship with Christ and get stuck in routines with little fruit budding. We must be careful to know that God desires to draw us closer to Himself and is ever willing to open our eyes if we are humble and make ourselves available. If in a spiritual rut where things seem to get stale or monotonous, speaking to your pastors or trusted believers who can pray with you, setting out time to wait on God, Bible Study and fasting can help stir a revival in your personal relationship with Him. Be assured God will reveal Himself to you once again!
God Determines What and How He is to be Revealed unto Man
Our Creator knows us and our needs better than we can. Human comprehension is finite and many times, what we assume as needs are not God's plans for us, especially at a certain time. When viewed in context of our root passage, the Israelites desired freedom, but were unaware that asides deliverance, they needed a new revelation of God; one different from what they or their forefathers had. They knew God as the El-Shaddai but not as Adonai.
When we seek God earnestly in truth and Spirit, He decides how to reveal what He chooses, as well as the timing of such revelations. No two humans receive a portion of the Truth of (from) God in the same exact way; He meets our individual spiritual needs in diverse manners not minding if we belong to the same group or circumstance. As such, we must learn to seek God in humility and wait on Him, knowing that He is ever ready to show us His perspectives and will.
Conclusion
Divine revelation is not a topic that can be exhausted in one blog post, as it affects all aspects of a believer’s life – deliverance, direction, daily living, association, knowledge of our Saviour, provision etc. In all of this, we must understand that our knowledge and revelation of God is essential to growing and receiving from Him.
Just as Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, it is my prayer that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, gives unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Amen.