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Go! And Know His Name: The Names Of God In The Bible - Exodus 3:13–15 Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 5, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: “What is His name?” That’s the question Moses asked God at the burning bush. It’s the same question many ask today — sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with doubt, sometimes with desperation. Who is God? What is He like? Can I know Him personally?
Go! And Know His Name: The Names of God in the Bible - Exodus 3:13–15
INTRODUCTION: WHO IS GOD?
“What is His name?” That’s the question Moses asked God at the burning bush. It’s the same question many ask today — sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with doubt, sometimes with desperation. Who is God? What is He like? Can I know Him personally?
The Bible does not leave us guessing. God has revealed His names to us — not just titles, but truths. His names reveal His nature, His character, and His relationship to us. To know the names of God is to know the heart of God. To know His name is to be transformed by His love and to respond in worship and obedience.
Let’s begin with Exodus 3:13–15 (NLT): “But Moses protested, ‘If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” they will ask me, “What is his name?” Then what should I tell them?’ God replied to Moses, ‘I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.’”
I. Yahweh – “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14)
This is God’s personal, covenant name: Yahweh (??????). It speaks of His eternal, self-existent nature.
At the burning bush, Moses stood trembling before a bush that burned but wasn’t consumed. And the voice from the bush — holy, powerful, awe-inspiring — declared: I Am Who I Am. Yahweh is not defined by time, place, or human understanding. He simply is. Eternal. Unchanging. Faithful.
The Hebrew phrase Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh (??????? ?????? ???????) means "I will be what I will be" or "I am who I am." God is saying: "I am the One who exists." This name, Yahweh, speaks of God's immutability — He does not change.
When we feel unstable or insecure, we can rest in knowing that Yahweh is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is not moody. He does not lie. He does not fail.
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” — Proverbs 18:10, NLT
John Piper said, “God never had a beginning. God will never end. God is absolute reality. There is no reality before Him. There is no reality outside of Him unless He wills it and makes it.”
That’s the weight of the name Yahweh. He is the source of all things, the sustainer of all things, and the saviour of all who call upon His name.
II. El Shaddai – God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am El-Shaddai—“God Almighty.” Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.’” (Genesis 17:1, NLT)
God revealed this name to Abram when he was 99, long after the promise of a son had been made. El Shaddai reassures us that nothing is too hard for Him — even creating life in a barren womb.
El means "God," and Shaddai likely comes from the root shad, meaning "mountain" or “breast,” symbolising strength and nourishment. Together, El Shaddai speaks of God’s omnipotence and sufficiency.
God is mighty to save. Whatever seems impossible to us is possible with Him. Whether you're facing a diagnosis, a broken marriage, or a deep loss — God is still El Shaddai.
Charles Stanley said, “Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He's sufficient for all of our needs.”
He is not just powerful in theory — He is powerful in your reality.
III. Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:13–14)
“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the Lord will provide’). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” (Genesis 22:14, NLT)
When God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to offer Isaac, Abraham trusted — and God provided a ram in place of Isaac. This points forward to the cross.
Jehovah Jireh (?????? ???????) literally means “The LORD will see to it” — He will provide.
A young mother once testified, “I opened the fridge. Empty. I opened the cupboards. Bare. I cried out, ‘God, I don’t know what to feed my children.’ An hour later, a neighbour knocked — arms full of groceries. She said, ‘God told me you needed this.’” That’s Jehovah Jireh.
Trust God’s provision — not just in finances, but in peace, strength, and ultimately in the Lamb of God.
