The Problem with Jehovah (Part 3)

Welcome back oh brave ones who have muscled through the first 2 parts of this blog to reach the final installment of this series. If you haven’t read any of the previous blogs on the subject, I would suggest that you do in order to understand where I’m coming from and where I’m going. Thanks for your patience!

We ended our last session talking about how we have mistransliterated YHWH into Jehovah. As previously stated (at the end of Part 2) I have another disclaimer. I’m not saying that name can’t be used, and I’m not saying it’s of the devil, but if you are freaking out about what I’ve said so far, please, return to The Problem with Jehovah (Part 1) and walk through steps 1 – 4 at the top of the page.

Now we know what YHWH means, and that it’s what God wanted to be called, but what does Jehovah mean? Well most agree that it’s, “I am the Lord who,” and it’s typically followed by something that He does for us. So Jehovah seems to be a God who does things for people. How is this a bad thing? Easily answered, it’s not. As a matter of fact I’ve experienced my God doing great and wonderful things for me. He died for me, rescued me from a life leading to death, forgave my sin that put Him on the cross, and He’s gotten me out of impossible situations. It’s amazing and it is an attribute of our God for be faithful and not deny Himself. So why do I have a problem with “Jehovah?”

For starters YHWH means I AM and this was the everlasting name God gave to Moses to be known for all generations. Moses was given all he needed to know in the name “I AM.”

If I could indulge, I would say God was telling Moses; “Moses, there are two million people (approximately) in Egypt. Go and get them out. Don’t tell them I’m going to give them money. Don’t tell them I’m going to give them fame. Don’t tell them I’m going to give them healing. Don’t tell them I’m going to give them food. Don’t tell them I’m going to help them through they’re trials. You tell them I AM! I AM their reward! I AM their fame! I AM healing! I AM their bread! I AM deliverance! I AM! I AM! I AM! For 400 years they’ve cried out for me to rescue them, to deliver them, for financial freedom, to help them with their pain and to assist them in their trials. They’ve wanted more comfort in their lives and have cried out to me for it. Not once have they simply asked for Me. Not once was I what they needed, but only what I could do was what they wanted. Nevertheless, I have heard their cry and I will intervene.”

God still performed mighty miracles and rescued them by His power of His hand, but Israel’s appetite was insatiable and they continued to press for more from God not more of God. They felt like God owed them something and they remained carnal in their thinking and just wanted more, more and more. They received manna daily, quail, and water from a rock! They got supplied but never filled. If only He was their desire they would’ve have been satisfied. All they needed, and should have wanted, was Him.

We can’t have carnal mindsets desiring a genie and expecting “Jehovah” to just keep “hooking us up.” Of course He’s going to help us along our journey as He did Israel, and He’s going to try to guide us back to Him. But when we get too comfortable with this aspect of Him giving what we think we need He quickly becomes our “sugar daddy”. We start to serve Him for what He has and can do and not for who He is and this makes us people who have our minds on the flesh and seek out what it desires. According to Romans 8 this eventually makes us God’s enemy and will cause us to wander in the desert until we die there. Instead of us rubbing the proverbial lamp and continually seeking after what He can do for us and let us seek after Him. Let’s see a comparison.
Jehovah

I am the Lord who

YHWH

I AM

The reason He wanted to be known by this name is so that the people would know that He is all in all. He is everything they’re looking for. Sure, He’s completely able to change things, give things and do things for us, but He wants us to desire Him for Him, not for His wares. For example:

You see the difference between these to perspectives of God. He wanted to be known as the answer to everything we ever need, not as having the answer. He doesn’t just want to give you life, He wants to be your life. As Paul quoted in Acts 17:28 (ESV); “In Him we live and move and have our being.” In Him we do all things. That explains how Jesus, in John 10:10b, could give us life in abundance. It doesn’t get more abundant than your life being in the Almighty God. The One who IS your healing, IS your sight, IS your covering, IS your provision. Adam was not Eve’s help-mate and neither should Jesus be the church’s. The bride is to be the groom’s helper and not the other way around. He is the vine, and we can only produce fruit when in Him. He is the life, we just live it.

So what’s my problem with Jehovah? Nothing! The Lord who takes care of us is mighty, merciful and wonderful. I have a problem with people’s perspective of YHWH we’ve come to. That we’ve changed His name so that we can ask, “What can He do for me?” And the church has catered to this question and provide a sloppy gospel because they’re wandering in the wilderness following Jehovah and whining for stuff, instead of arriving at the mountain to me YHWH and living in a land of Promise. A place that flows with milk and honey, where the insatiable are satisfied, a place of plenty. That place is in Him.

So let us all do Him a favor, let’s see what we can do for Him. Because He IS all He ever has to do for us! Flee from the “Sugar Daddy” version of God and let’s serve the real creator of the universe. Let us walk in Him and reflect that wonderful image of Jesus to this dry and weary world and lead them to the land of promise by showing them He IS the great I AM!

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