When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he told him his name was Yahweh, which means he will be who he will be. Throughout the Bible we see that God’s people regularly used his name. It makes sense for us today to continue this biblical practice.
Exodus 3:1-6 God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, introducing himself as “The God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Exodus 3:13-16 When Moses asked God what his name was, he replied “I will be who I will be.” Then he told him to tell Israel, “Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” God’s name is Yahweh and it means that he will be who he will be.
Exodus 20:7 Sometimes people point to the third commandment to not take the name in vain as a reason not to pronounce it at all. The reasoning goes that refusing to pronounce God’s name guarantees that it won’t be taken in vain. Although it is important not to misuse God’s name, blaspheme it, or employ it in a trivial or frivolous way, there’s more to it than that. If we are in a covenant relationship with Yahweh, then we carry his name where we go. We represent him to the world. Let’s do our best to make him look good!
Numbers 5:23-27 God told Aaron and his sons to put his name on the children of Israel. He gave him a special blessing that repeatedly uses God’s name.
Ruth 2:3-5; Judges 6:11-13; 1 Samuel 3:8-9 Israelites in the Bible regularly used God’s name as greetings and to address God. Although it became common later to substitute “the LORD” for Yahweh, this is nowhere commanded or suggested in scripture.
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