S7E20 - His Great Name

How can something be one and three at the same time?

The trinity is much more than a teaching or doctrine of the historical church. It describes the eternal nature of God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always existed in fullness, completeness, and oneness. They have enjoyed perfect relationship throughout eternity, even before time was set in motion.

When our great God decided to create other beings, angels, and then humanity He did not do so because He was lonely or incomplete. He did so in order for us to share His glory. This is the destination of mankind despite the entrance of sin into the world. It is all about His Great Name. It is not merely His title(s) as it is His essence - and we are invited to discover and live within the boundaries of His mind and heart.

When Moses received the Law on the mountain (written by the finger of God), it was a truly monumental encounter. Each mention of LORD here is His Name Yahweh, which translates "I Am Who I Am." Moses is beginning to be able to hear and understand the voice of God as he encounters His Great Name. In His Name is ultimate authority. When He speaks - it becomes true.

Notice the things the Lord is teaching Moses about Who He is!

           "The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”  Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. He said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.”   Exodus 34:5-9

Compassionate. Gracious. Slow to anger. Abounding in lovingkindness AND truth. Keeping lovingkindness for thousands. Forgiving iniquity. Bringing justice. This is a powerful thumbnail of Who God is!!!

As we know from the entire God Story, mankind has ups and downs, yet the Lord never changes. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! As we look through the Story we see amplifications of His greatness as He deals with the sons and daughters of men.

“For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself."  1 Samuel 12:22

Jesus found His shelter in His Father, just as He always had. Though He shared His great Name, He humbled Himself to the form of a man in order to taste and overcome death for all who embrace Him - per the eternal plan made between the "trinity." He did not back off from who He was:

           “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple."  John 8:53-59

Here is what we use to stimulate understanding of His Great Name - for all who ar