In this Names of God reading plan, we are learning more about God by studying the names given to Him in Scripture. Rather than having our writers share their own reflections on these passages, we’ve instead provided research-rich content to aid in your study of each day’s featured name of God, including the background of the name(s), a brief explanation of the character of God emphasized by the name(s), and a reflection question to help you dig deeper into the text.
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Yahweh
YHWH (Hebrew)
Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:7-16, Exodus 34:1-9, Psalm 15:1-5, Isaiah 42:5-9, John 8:58
Description
Yahweh is a profoundly holy name, but it is also unmistakably personal. Yahweh is distinct from other names of God because it is self-revealed. It is the intimate, covenantal, relational name of God. Modern English translations of the Bible often use small capital letters for YHWH.
When Moses asks God for His name in Exodus 3, God reveals Himself as “I Am Who I Am,” and then calls Himself Yahweh. In Exodus 34, He again proclaims His name as He describes His character to Moses. His name is a core part of the covenantal promise He makes with Moses—Yahweh will always be who He is.
Emphasis
The name God gives Himself, highlighting His covenantal and relational nature
Reflection
What does this name teach me about God?
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310 thoughts on "Yahweh"
That he is the I AM
Moses asks “who am I to do this?” God answers by telling Moses who he himself is, “I AM”. It is not about me and my worth, but rather God and his power and plan.
Yahweh… I Am. This name of God speaks to me of His unchanging nature. He has been, is, and will always be who He is. Good, holy, just, compassionate, merciful & loving. I’m thankful He reigns and I’m thankful to be His. ❤️
I can’t comprehend why such a powerful God would come down and be in relationship with his people, but I’m so thankful YAWEH chose that.
I love that. I am who I am, so small but powerful. He simply is who he says he is.
Then the Lord cam down in a cloud and stood there with Him. Exodus 34:5 ♥️ Thank you, Lord, for standing with us.
He is worthy to be praised!
He is unchanging, steadfast, trustable, truth
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, – Exodus 34:6
That He is faithful. He remains with me. That He is true and real.
Meditating on His holy and personal name Yahweh is bringing me so much peace right now.
Love the song ‘Yaweh, Yahweh’ Powerful to worship God using the name he gave Himself.
I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8
YHWH is so profound and spectacular and yet He still want a close personal relationship with me.
He brings himself to us ! Yahweh you want us to be close so you bring yourself to us .
I can trust God made no mistake by making me, because I was made in His image and therefore if He knows who He is, then He knows me.
Although He is HOLY, He comes near to the lowly. Yahweh comes close and makes promises to us. Mind blowing!
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He is a relational God
No matter what, God is always there for me. He is my comforter, He is me strength, and most of all His compassion to love me no matter what and call me His child is so amazing.
I am thankful that God is who he said he is that he does not change. That he loves me even though I fail him, he is my rock in this unstable world. My desire is to always seek him and his desire is to be near me.
this shows me that He is a relational God. He continues to prove over and over again, that He is who He says He is, and that is never to change. my thoughts and behavior does not change his desire to be near to me.
I have often thought of the name Yahweh as the name God uses to show us he wants to be near to us. And then I think of my children. I always say… “it’s so hard to be a parent on the really tough days. They rebel, or have a bad day, and you just want to pull them close, forgive them and move forward. It’s easy to see why God calls us his children and always wants to be near to us too. He just wants to calm those fears in us, as we do for our own children.
He is who he says he is always and forever. My fears, feelings and failure will not change this. I can always come to the steady unchanging rock.
Amen sister and thank you for your comment
YHWH encompasses everything that God is for us in each season of life.
He was My Friend in one season & My Father in the next. He was My Defender in another & My Rescuer in the next. All of these things that He is to be, YHWH simply puts them all into one.
Taking comfort in how God is who he is and that does not change! My behavior does not alter his faithfulness.
That God YHWH wants an intimate relationship with me. YHWH wants to reveal the I Am to me the character, nature, and plan of I Am that I Am.
It says that He is unchanging. He is not fickle. He is Who He Is and He cannot depart from that or do something out of His character. That is greatly comforting knowing the character of God doesn’t change. It is steadfast
Gracious is the Lord. I just can’t thank Him enough for just existing. In fact, He reveals to us who He is in relationship to who we are in Him just in His name alone.
Yahweh, the beginning and the end. Everything!! More than I can even imagine, think of or hope for. I’m awestruck when I think of I AM who has me in His hands.
I love that this name is set apart because it is self-revealed!
He is who He is – the all-powerful God who wants a relationship with me, the Savior of the world.
Unchanging God; that is who He is!!!! Constant. Consistent. Immovable. Present throughout all ages. Our God is awesome!
YAHWEH….I love HIM! He is who He is.
He is who He is. There is nothing that can change that, God doesn’t have seasons of learning or growing. Nothing that happens in the universe can change who He is. Stable, unchanging. Loving, caring, compassionate. He shares. Coming down to stand with Moses, just wow. It makes me speechless
Yahweh to me means God is always there. Always by our side. If we grow a personal relationship with him there are no bounds to the love and grace we receive from him.
The beginning, the now and the end. There is no other
There is none like Him no comparison “ I am that I am”. He is eternal He is The Lord who saves.
He is the author of the ultimate promise ❤️
If this is the first name God gives himself to His people, I think of it almost as His desired first impression. First impressions play a large part in how we build relationships in our daily life. In building our relationship with God, He wanted our first impression of Him to be of his consistent love and forgiveness. If this is His first impression, this shows me the first aspect of His character He wants me to know and hold close is His Grace. God is Grace first.
Love this! Thank you
Yes!!
Sarah Mezzera, I love how you highlighted that truth…. He separates Himself from other gods in that He is relational and personal! Thank you for that!
While it’s this beautifully personal and strong name, it also speaks to the fact that we in our human state will never be able to fully comprehend God. I love how He knows this, and calls himself “I am” knowing that we can’t grasp it.
True we can’t grasp it, beautifully wrote Devon :)
Immediately God separates himself from other gods and shows us that he is relational, intimate, personal, and selfless. He wants us and desires us. He chooses to be intimate. Wow!
God is reflective and intentional with giving Himself the name Yahweh. He is self-aware, and He proclaims to be intimate and relational. Love this! Love that out of all of the names He could use, this is what He tells Moses to tell the people of Israel.
It’s intimate and personal. Like that personal name a daughter calls her father and no one else has an understanding of.
It’s a personal name.
God really stands on who he is and he’s still God! In these chapters I learned what names to call out during prayer and in adoration I learned what names to call out when I am just thanking him for who he is! A God filled with plenty unwavering love and faithfulness !
This name reminds me of the care and compassion God has for us. This name was revealed as He showed himself as a Savior to His people and as a loving, compassionate deliverer. God’s grace is boundless and reaches the multitude of those who love His son.
The Exodus 3 reference occurs before the Israelites have been led out of Egypt. Moses, who they haven’t seen in years and therefore don’t know, has to convince an entire people group to leave and follow him, even though there could be great consequences. He wants some authority to go with His claim. Some kind of evidence that the God of the Israelites is truly the one who sent him.
Does it bother anyone else that God literally says “this is my name forever and thus I am to be remembered throughout the generations” and yet we replace YHWH with LORD on the Bible? Why is this done?
Perhaps it was to keep the reverence associated with YHWH? Sometimes when words/names/phrases are used often the true meaning or importance is taken for granted.
During the intertestamental period of Israel, around 500 BC, the Jews became very concerned with not blaspheming the name of the Lord. So rather than saying the name Yahweh, they would say Elohim instead, which is the Hebrew word for god.
I heard it explained as the word “god” is functional whereas, Yahweh is our heavenly Father’s Hebrew name. Powerful. Personal. Perfect. ❤️
I believe a part of it is because the Hebrews thought (and knew) His name was so Holy, too Holy for them to speak which then resulted in calling Him other names- God, Lord, Creator etc. I read this a little bit ago in John Mark Comers “God Has a Name” where he goes through the passage in Exodus line by line. It’s a great read and has lots of information about Gods name and his relational being. Highly recommend!
This reference in Ex 3 is the burning bush story. It occurs before the Israelites are led out of Israel.
It’s a little confusing because later on in this study they reference Ex 34 (I think) where Moses goes up the mountain. They know who he is there obviously. So two different Ex texts. That may be where the confusion lies.
I love this reminder of how much God loves us. How much he wants to meet us on a personal level. I struggle with anxiety and fear and it keeps me from the life I would like to live. It causes me to put up walls in relationships and push people away. I’m scared to love after being hurt so deeply. This reminder of Gods love is what I need to hold on to. Allowing God to love me first will help me to heal.
Abba understands me. He knows my struggles and calls me to rise above.
I am overwhelmed 5hat God is so relational that he loves me and cares for me like I’m the only person on this earth! That blows me away and is so humbling
I meant to say live for him.
I would like some prayer for myself. It seems that I have living with anxiety and fear. I know that God is always with me but sometimes I can’t feel his presence. I know that he loves me so much. I just want to live for me.
Hello Lynette! First, I am sending so many prayers your way! At times when we feel so far gone and feel that we are drowning He comes and finds us in the darkness and He has NEVER forgotten about us. He hears our SOS, He sees us crying, He feels our pain, and He rescues us! I recommend you listening and praying with Lauren Daigel’s song “Rescue”. Lynette, I am praying for you. May God bless you!
I have been in the same place and I let all of those negative emotions take the wheel instead of recognizing Gods incredible grace. He is right there putting blessings in my life, but at that time I kept looking over my shoulder and missing them! To a point that really messed things up. However, God swooped in and said ‘Enough is Enough’ and gave me so much mercy in the midst of me letting anxiety drive things. Here is the truth: That fear (anxiety, depression)…it might be a remnant of some unfortunate something BUT what it really is when we let it linger and bother us is this: It is a LIAR trying to steal your joy and make u forget Gods grace. Imagine fully understanding that you have a perfect father that wants wonderful things for you and knows exactly what’s best for you. This does not mean perfect emotions all the time, but the truth that God is taking care of you and knows what will bring you the true joy and peace. That you can get thru a rough patch because He loves you and will see you thru. Believe what is true and good and free yourself from the lies to anxiety and depression. If you think it’s something more chemical, than get the right pros in your life to evaluate. But God is there either way. I let myself be tainted by lies for a while but God still came in and directed me back to truth. He does this for all of us. When those feelings start bugging you – get strong and say ‘You will not steal my Joy!’
This name reminds me that he is our unchanging unshakable foundation. I am so thankful for His endless grace.
He was with Moses through the plagues, the Red Sea, the many denials of the Israelites, and wandering through the desert. He will be with me today and tomorrow and he has been with me since the beginning
There is no god like our amazing God. We will never comprehend His absolute majesty and greatness and yet He stands with His people, supporting and strengthening them. He is on our side
Amen
The self-existent, needing nothing God.
That He is the one to reveal Himself in intimacy, to offer us Himself in covenant, to give Himself to us. He is.
To serve a Good who is the same Today,Yesterday and always reminds me that no matter what I go through in life he will never change.Always faithful and loving ❤️
Yahweh is unchanging
He can be unfailingly trusted in all things
I AM.
Always there, NEVER changing. NEVER abandoning. NEVER stop loving. NEVER conforming to the world. NEVER failing. ALWAYS Faithful, ALWAYS constant. ALWAYS with me. BEFORE me, BEHIND me, BESIDE me.
LOVING me ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS!! ❤️
I AM- fixed, steadfast, never changing, trustworthy, always remains the same!
The name Yahweh to me means he’s ALWAYS constant. He’s NEVER CHANGING, FAILING, NEGLECTING. He’s always with us! Even in the times when we feel discouraged. He’s faithful and he for ever remains the same! ❤️
I AM- truthful trustworthy consistent. He is the same God that He says He is in exodus to John. Consistent. Reliable. Never changing
Yahweh, the GREAT I AM! He is the same all of our days and forever! Unlike us, he is ALWAYS constant. Never changing. He keeps his promises. Pours out grace and gives us compassion.
Yahweh… I AM… God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It’s hard to conceive what this really means, in a world where nothing is constant except change. My feelings, emotions, perspectives, and actions are in a constant state of change. But, God is not like that. And, when he promises to love, protect, forgive, and provide for me, I need to remember… his promise has not and will never change or diminish. Just this glimpse of understanding of that truth overwhelms me with awe and gratitude. ❤️
❤️
I AM makes me think that God is…It signifies that He always was and always will be…He has no beginning and no end. He is the author of everything because He was before everything. It is part of the mind-blowing reality that He loves me and calls me. I AM signifies that He is who he says HE his and He is who HE says I am….There is no place that HE is not, therefore I am never alone.
I wanted to ask for prayer today, I have some anxiety and fear around a specific situation at work and would love for God to calm my heart and settle my spirit. I know that He is a good God and will go before me, I just pray I could feel him today.
I am late to this reading plan but wanted to start at the beginning and so I see your request and I just want you to know I prayed for you.
Will pray for you!
Praying for supernatural peace and wisdom from the Lord to guide your words, actions and thoughts today and always. You are loved dear one❤️
Yahweh means that He will remain constant in my life, even though I am constantly leaving Him. He promises to stay by my side, to pull me back, to be loving and comforting and strong and just to me. This promise brings out a response to follow Him without wavering.
A couple years after I came back to the Lord I had a strong desire to tattoo my relationship with Him to remind me to never walk away or turn my back on Him because he is always with me and was with me. He came after me in Love like the shepherd who leaves the 99 for the 1. So it’s no surprise I chose Yahweh in Hebrew to be tattooed on my back. I love Him and the reminder the tattoo gives me during good times and bad.
Yahweh – yesterday, today and tomorrow I AM is faithful to us. I AM breathes life into us, HIS spirit is with us. I AM is in control, I AM fights for us, I AM loves us so mercifully and graciously. My heart is overwhelmed by HIS goodness and beauty this morning!
I AM there for you when you are feeling so alone. I AM love when this world is feeling so cold. I AM constant, never leaving your side, though you may wander I AM there for you. I AM stronger than all of your fears. I AM eager for a relationship with you. I AM your support. Those goals/dreams I have instilled in you are not too big for me, I AM working along side you, cheering you on.
Yes!
Yahweh, to me, means constant. Constant love, constant grace, endless mercy. He never stops showing us what real love looks like. It can’t be defined by man’s perspective, by religion, but only by relationship with the Father. Even when he looks down on his people is heartbroken by our rebellion, he tells us in Isaiah 42:6 “I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will HOLD YOU BY YOUR HAND. I will KEEP You and APPOINT You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations…” He holds us even when we don’t deserve it. That’s love.
He tells us that his name is Yahweh , and then continues to tell who Yahweh is ! He is a Lord of all and He gives to us unconditionally !But He also will and did give His punishment to those who didn’t listen to Him !
Yahweh means that He wants me. Pursues me. Loves me. He delights in fellowship with me.
The name Yahweh tells me that God, creator and sustainer of the universe, is compassionate, kind, and loving. Forgiving sin, iniquity, and transgressions to those who love Him. He is intimate, he is relational, and will keep his promises to us (faithful). Yet he is a just God who will not clear the guilty. He expects to be honored for who he is and we can expect of him faithfulness to his word, love, understanding and an intimate relationship.
Yahweh(I Am) means to me that God is never changing, always loving, wants a close relationship with us & is always steadfast in his protection of us. There is no where or nothing Yahweh won’t do for us. His love is like a truth fathers love. He will fight for us even when we turn from him.
God is who He is. I Am. He promises to be a steadfast love and He is full of grace and mercy, abounding in love and faithful. He forgives us. He is always with us, never leaving us.
Yahweh- He is all I need!
(I AM) means He is everything and the only one ♥️
I think I am missing it…I see that He says I Am, but where does he actually say Yahweh? In the explanation it says in Exodus 3 He says I Am , Yahweh, but I do not see that I’m the chapter/verse.
Hi! My understanding is that Yahweh is the original Hebrew name so it is not used directly in modern translations. :) Someone correct me if I am wrong, please.
I wondered the same thing and did a little research. Some scholars believe Yahweh can be translated into I Am and is printed that way in some translations. It’s also written as LORD with all capital letters.
I’ve never noticed that before today.
I AM means to me that He has my back and He is control even when things seem scary and out of control. Hes there beside me in control!
He never changes .And he’s gracious and merciful to solve any problem our lives
I AM teaches me that my God is a God of action — he will always be there and providing for his beloved which is who we ARE. By learning His identify I have found who I am.
Yahweh (I AM) means to me that God is steadfast, constant, reliable and our closest companion. Rock of the ages.
I AM says to me that God is all that I need…everything!
Yahweh is such a deep name. He reveals Himself as everything… that was, is and is yet to come. I love this study!
I AM — I am and always will be. And we follow Him and will not be moved. Keep tight to that promise!
I Am. God will ALWAYS be who he has promised.
He is Awe-some.
He is my personal God. He is willing to have a deeper relationship with me.
Close your eyes and imagine standing before God and asking him, “What shall I call you?”. He replies, Yahweh!”…. Love it
He never changes
Yahweh, being deeply personal and self-revealed shows us that God truly loves us and wants to have an intimate relationship with each and every single one of us. How precious is His love!
I AM—Yahweh—the name of God that says He always has been & always will be. He is past, present, and future. What a sweet reminder that He is never wavering, unchanging from age to age.
God never fails us and he never will!! He is the one and ONLY true God!! Our God is almighty and no power against can stop him!
Such a profoundly powerful name, and so much to think about here.. YHWH just “is” – the one “thing” that exists that has never been created or manipulated – the ultimate IS. He IS His steady characteristics, revealed in human form to us in the person of Jesus – love, mercy, patience, generosity… we have such a GOOD God ❤️
My Bible never mentions the name Yahweh only the Lord.
Yahweh is the Hebrew word that is translated as “Lord,” probably written with small caps in your Bible.
Beautiful in all ways!
God is who he says he is and no one else. Just as we should be who we are in Christ.
Psalm 86:11,15 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
The name Yahweh teaches me that God loves us, even when we aren’t constant like him, and his love for us won’t change no matter what we do.
Our God is a personal God, who wants us to approach Him and know Him.
This name reminds me of how constant God is and will always be.
yesss
I AM WHAT I AM. to me that means security. unbreakable, matter-a-fact. nothing i do will change the fact that God is Yahweh.
Love this
As I parent my kids I see how my inconsistencies hinder them. It also hinders me. We are by very nature people who crave consistency. God embodies this with always being the same God. It makes him safe for us. It gives us an example to follow. Lord, help me to embrace consistency in my life with how I parent, how I have my quiet times how I take care of myself.
As a parent myself, I couldn’t agree more. God is a constant and doesn’t ever waver in his patience or kindness. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Amen!
❤️
He is faithful even when we are faithless. He cannot deny himself or change who he is.
The I AM – who was and is and is to come – His Word never fails, His covenants forever intact. The power of Your name is unending and unyielding.
his love never changes no mater how good or how bad i do
“I am who I am.” What this means to me is that God will remain who he always was. He will never change & never stop giving His love to us. HE IS NEVER ENDING!!! ❤️
this teaches me that God will never change who He is. He will keep to his name and remain faithful to us.
So happy to be reading along with you all! I found this today too and thought I’d share: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/10-things-yahweh-means
So thankful that our God continues to make Himself so personal and relational.
Today’s message, it is said that God is who he’s before even Abraham was anything and the scripture makes understand how to get on Gods guest list ie; to act right, honesty , don’t hurt another, don’t take bribes. Indeed Gods so wonderful that he even was so proud to say I’m the father of the Sinners and the father of the Sin forgivers. Brethren even upon our daily sins God is still proud to call us his own and yet we aren’t proud to even call our brothers, brothers because they hurt us
We drive away the thief and disown them as our family but God who forgives us our sin doesn’t. Today is the chance for us all to forgive anyone sinned against us and draw them closer to know what God speaks against what they do to hurt others❤️
This is really good, Jessica. I think you’ve duplicated a paragraph
I think personally this ones one of my favorites of all times.
Yahweh is what he wants to be called….who He says He IS.. And the name in itself describes His character… Past, present, future. Intentional, with you (present), relational.
He is not defined or named by my feelings towards him at any one point. I AM is steadfast and unchanging.
Also you could look at “I AM the Lord” like “Joe, the plumber” ….likewise God is introducing Himself, “I AM, the Lord.” His name and his relationship to us.
Yahweh is what he wants to be called….who He says He IS.. And the name in itself describes His character… Past, present, future. Intentional, with you (present), relational.
He is not defined or named by my feelings towards him at any one point. I AM is steadfast and unchanging.
Also you could look at “I AM the Lord” like “J
He shows he will always be there – close, faithful, patient & with us. Reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:13 (“if we are faithless, he REMAINS faithful, for he cannot dent himself”)
I love the focus on this study. It truly displays the greatness of our Lord. That even his name is so profound and deep that I AM conveys so much more than we can begin to comprehend.
God is God and there is no other. He IS, WAS and ALWAYS will be God. He is unchanging. In these things I can rest secure that He will keep His promises and will always be present with me.
Yahweh is who HE says he is, not who I say (or feel) how he is. My emotions are fickle and change daily…shoot, sometimes hourly it seems! But he never changes! Slow to anger, compassionate, holy, merciful, sovereign, kind, judge, provider, protector! Thank you God!!!
I AM. Today this is reminding me that even though i have been struggling to choose to spend some quiet time with Him that He is gentle and kind and He is and has always been there just waiting to receive me back. I am thankful for a compassionate and gracious God who sent His son so that we can have grace in our time of need. I am thankful that he always was, always is and always will be there. Amen!
Yahweh, the most intimate of names. May these verses reveal God’s love, mercy and remind us of his expectations in our everyday life.
Yahweh is God’s name; he revealed it to Moses and us because he wanted us to realise he is with us and shared his name to make us feel much more closer to him.
God is not some far off being. He is close and wants a close relationship with each of us. I am so thankful for a God that is all powerful and yet so merciful and loving.
Yahweh is personal. It’s the name God gave for himself- He wants to be intimate and personal with each of us. He wants us to know Him personally.
I love this app
I had the song “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship repeating in my head while reading this study.. a sweet reminder to go along with the knowledge that we are who He says we are and no one can change that.
I am who I am, God will never change, will always be there by our sides loving and protecting us. So powerful
Yahweh has taught me how close he wants to be with us and wants us to follow him and be guided by him. He wants us in his life and to give ourselves to him forever.
So many names of God tell me what God DOES…this name tells me about who God IS: He has always existed and He is above all others. He is gracious and compassionate, yet He is also just. Today, I’m resting in the truth that my Heavenly Father isn’t just a little more than I need, He is I AM.
I love this description of Yahweh and it is so true, God IS everything that we need and more!
This has taught me that Yahweh is our one and only Holy God who created us & His character is so beautiful and gracious. He reveals to us in different ways in our life & His love for us is everlasting ❤️
Yahweh reveals to me how much God desires to be close and relational to is. How much He wants us to SEE Him as the compassionate, faithful God He is to EACH and everyone us…no matter how different our lives are. He is who He is to each and everyone of us, regardless of how we look, what we’ve done and where we are at in our lives. He is the God that never changes, forever standing and forever unshaken in His character towards all of us. ❤️
Yahweh is full of promises that will never be broken. He will do what he says and expects us to chase after the embodiment of Christ.
God of our world, our breath, our breath, and our life. He has nothing to prove, he is who he says he is. In everything God is there with his everlasting love.
Unchanging. Present. Peace in a broken and chaotic world.
Yahweh, God is our everything. Beginning and the end, our all in all, He is who He says He is. He is never changing, and I thank him for being the constancy we need when we are unstable. God never fails, and is there to rescue us, when we fail. When things get tough He pulls us through. He NEVER leaves us nor forsakes us. He is our EVERYTHING!
This is a beautiful description of Yahweh, and brought me to tears this morning! ♥️
Lovely description
He is the answer to every question – God is more than we can fathom, but in every case, He is. God is reminding us personally – “I Am”. That doesn’t expire, or ever cease to be true – it’s infinite. He is. Every day. It also speaks to how our past and future is still God’s present. Our yesterdays and our tomorrows are all part of his broader plan. He “was” yesterday, He “will be” tomorrow, yet all of it is still “I am” because our story is his and he is shaping it actively every day
Amen!
So good Sarah!!
Grounding reality in the presence of a personal, holy and eternal God. I am because He is the ultimate I am.
Praise our God Almighty, ❤️ Yahweh ❤️
Yahweh is rich in faithful love and truth. Yahweh is HOLY. Yahweh is glorious and praiseworthy. He is the Lord. He is the creator and the giver of life. He pays close attention to His people and knows their sufferings. He is compassionate and gracious. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has all understanding and He calls us to a righteous purpose. He is slow to anger yet He is also just and will not let the guilty go unpunished. Jesus is the Lord and his name is Yahweh. All the glory goes to him. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yahweh is a name that makes me feel safe. It is solid and reliable.
Love this…
He is powerful, almighty and so worthy of our praise. Yet He is also loving and meets us where we’re at no matter how dirty we have become. He is everywhere at once yet so presently and intimately within me at the same time. He is the God of all things and deserves all of our praise, forever shouting how Holy is He, is Yahweh.
One of my favorite names of God!
“I AM” is the same as yesterday as today and tomorrow. Who he is does not change based on time and circumstances
He simply is. In a world where everything changes he never does. I so long for something unmoveable, something stronger than me that will never change no matter what happens. Really this guttural longing is just a longing for him. He doesn’t need fancy words to describe him. He simply is. He exists and no other gods do. He is the one true God, worthy of all my love, my life, my affection. He is.
I am who I am. So matter of factly and simple. Since we are heirs to the throne I am who He says I am.
I am is not only how we address the father but it’s how we address ourselves when we say “I am…” we say God is … God is everything you are and more <3
Love this answer!!
I love this. We can only really be anything because first God is. Thank you!
God is I AM WHO I AM. He is not shameful for who He is like humans are on Earth, for He is God. His promises and love never change, but I wonder how he adapts to different generations. I.e the 1500s and now.
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness …”
God SOUGHT out Moses -not the other way around- and He gave Moses His name, which means that He wants the personal connection, He wants the relationship with us individually. He wants us to know His name, the name that we are to cry out to with our struggles and sing praises to with our gladness! Yahweh! Yahweh! We praise You!!
Glory, mercy, steadfast, never changing, I AM…Yahweh ❤️ My LORD!! Powerful!!
I am excited to be studying the names of God! Praise Him that we can trust Him to always be exactly what He promises to be for all eternity!
He is Yahweh
No other Name
No other name upon which we call
Not idols of stone or wood that fall.
Don’t argue with your Maker today
He bends and shapes and molds the clay.
The treasure of the hidden deep
This is what your heart shall seek.
It is I who have called you by your name
Great honor and glory My greatness proclaim.
I am the Lord, there is no other
From East to West my stars are scattered.
I am the Lord who does all things
I taught the Morning star to sing.
Creation’s story is disposed through My hands
As I stretched out the heavens and starry bands.
I am God alone, there is none like Me
If you bow to anyone, bow to Me!
Listen to Me, forsake your pride
I tell you your future, I am right by your side.
Remember all I have given to you
What I have, I will do!
G.Harlin
❤️
Love these first passages! I’m excited to discover more about God during this study, and how I can find him and name him in my everyday life.
That He never changes, yesterday, today or tomorrow
I believe Mali Music’s song “Yahweh” compliments this reading plan well. All Glory be to God, who is the same today, yesterday and forever more. ❤️
Totally. My favorite! Great suggestion.
Thanks for listing this song…..going to listen now!!!!
It lets me know that God is who ever or whatever I need him to be . There is no limitation to his magnitude .
I grew up hearing that God only became personal when Jesus came: The God of the Old Testament is a wrathful God while the God of the New Testament is a loving God. However, we see his love, compassion, desire for closeness with us throughout the whole bible from Genesis to Revelation! He wants to know us and he wants us to know him.
This is so true. He has truly never changed.
I am who I am… authenticity. Trustful, constantly, transparent, the only true god. Revealed in Jesus, our Lord. One day, we also will be known in our authentic being, when Jesus returns in glory
In the past, I AM. In the present, I AM. In the future, I AM. How wonderful!
This name teaches me about God that He is holy, but also personal. He is constant, which resonates with the fact that He’s constant in power, faith, love, holiness and keeps His promises. We know that we can also always rely on Yahweh to CONSTANTLY be holy, faithful, and wants to be intimate. I AM WHO I AM, has the connotation of being a constant, the commanding, strong name whom we can ALWAYS look too, who could never be beaten. Who also chooses to reveal himself over and over from the time of Moses!
There is no other like Him. He is so unique and incomparable that the people from that time could not get a proper Name to say ALL that He is. So when Moses asked Him what he should call Him, God gave himself a description of all that He is, all the different things that each one of us think about it when we here His name .
He is what He is, for all the eternity, and through Him everything exists!!
God is everything, He always was and always will be. ❤️
My given name is Debra, and for years I went by Debi. But as I got older I started to prefer Deb, but I didn’t really make that known to many people. Just those I really liked to spend time with. To me, when you tell someone what you call yourself, there is an intimacy of sorts present in the using of the name. The Lord lets us into the intimacy He reserves for His most beloved by telling us what He likes to be called. When I hear someone call me Deb there is a little tiny bit of personal-ness that they are becoming part of. But on the other hand, when some just heard someone else call me Deb and then uses that as well, it is almost as if part of me is revolting a bit about the name coming off the tongue of someone outside of my inner circle. In regard to the Lord, when people call on him who aren’t really his…well, I wonder if it causes a bit of sadness that they are outside his inner circle. Makes me think of the verse near the end of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, ” not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
I love this correlation. I have a nickname I introduce myself as, and it is how those outside of my inner circle know me. Those in my inner circle call me by my given name almost exclusively, and it’s sweet and precious for them to use it as a way of addressing me. Intimate, and intentional. This is a great perspective for me looking at God revealing his true name to us, and allowing us to call him by that.
I like that He says, “I am who I am.” No explanation or parameters around when of for whom He is… just that He is. It is such a human trait to only be our true selves for certain people or in certain situations. To varying degrees we have our work self, our friend self, our parent self, our weekend self… It is comforting to me to know God is His true self no matter what, and it encourages me to strive to do the same.
Amen!
Beautiful song by Elevation Worship, called “YAHWEH”, coincides nicely with the devotion today.
https://www.google.com/search?q=song+yahweh&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari
“I AM WHO I AM.” He is always in the present tense. He never says, “I was who I was.” He is for us today; in the present. Even Jesus in John 8:58 described himself in the past (during Abraham’s time) as present tense. “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was (past), I am (present).”
He is the God of all generations. Time and space do not place Him as a God of the past. Even His name declares that.
Reading everyone else’s comments about God as YAHWEH is encouraging its ministering to my heart .
HE IS Forever which is so comforting . To me God speaking to us Forever I AM Beginning and End , Peace ,Love, Joy, and so on all the names He calls Himself are true they are truth ..real and there is nothing false about him nor will there ever be.
Yes!
Yahweh – God is who He says He is intimate and wants to have a personal relationship with me and anyone who reaches out to Him.
Yahweh tells me that He is jealous for my full admiration, respect, and praise yet He is also personal and desires for me to be in an intimate relationship with Him. He wants me to constantly remember and reflect on His faithfulness and goodness. Yahweh provides and cares for every detail of my life. He always keeps His promises and never leaves my side.
I love the way you described what Yahweh means to you!
I too love your description of what YHWH means to you
Yahweh tells me that throughout all of history, all the epic battles, simple joys, natural disasters, lessons learned, hopes realized and dreams lost, God has been, has seen, and known. He transcends all, is above all. He is beyond time. What it does not tell me is WHY did he choose to set His love on me? Why, as one so infinitely far above, did he create people and stoop to sacrifice all for us? YAHWEH impresses on me, just a little more, the magnitude of what God has done for me.
Yahweh – ‘profoundly holy and unmistakably personal.’ Amazing❣️ This means so much to me … and the Lord knows why :). I am so thankful He has led me to these studies! And thank you for your faithfulness and obedience to make these available to us who seek truth! Blessings!!!
I’m already in love with this new plan!!!
“What does this name teach me about God?” That He truly always has been and always will be. It is amazing to me that cultures, languages, technology, and everything else changes. But He is the same exact God who gave Moses a second set of tablets just like He gives me a second chance in LIFE! He is the same as He was then, and, no matter what, He is the same God who will be forever.
Kate I like the way you think. Amen
He is the holy yet personal God. He gave the name himself, so He wants to be known.
He is the holy yet personal God.
Reminds me that there is no longer a barrier between God and myself through the blood of Jesus. I can approach I AM.
Sweet reminder this rainy Monday morning about our steadfast God. How amazing are his promises!!!!!
Hope and Joy that “Someone” so above my comprehension and understanding seeks me, loves that I might have a relationship with Him that is beyond all that I could ever imagine and dream of.
This is so awesome. My hubby and are born again Christians and have been attending Church for the past year. I am so thirsty to learn more and more about the Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit. Thank you❣️
To both you and your husband, welcome to the family! I pray that God will grow you both as you dig deeper and deeper into His word.
I love that there is not a writers thoughts on the scriptures in this series. It allows 100% focus on God and worshiping Him
I love Exodus 34:8-9…it just feels like a child talking to a parent, asking “just stay here with me”. Last night my daughter woke up a couple of times, seemingly for no reason. I laid down with her & she was happy. Sometimes we just need that with God. Just be with me. Yahweh is the part of His character that describes that – relational, involved. He went to great lengths to “just be” with us.
Yes Lindsey, I’m having the exact same issue with my daughter, who should be passed that phase! But it’s exactly what you said, my presence is enough to to make her world peaceful, and I need to come and rest with the Father in the same way. Thank you for drawing that parallel x
In the midst of so much busy, I find such comfort and rest knowing that God is constant, always there, always ready to give me comfort, strength and grace to continue. He WANTS me to know Him and in turn, GET to know Him – but I must quiet myself enough ponder on Him and not myself.
Of Course God would draw me to study His names in morning devotion and through this sermon series and this week’s prayer emphasis. Love how God weaves. I Am Who I Am. He was, He is and He forever will be. He is our Creator and Sustainer. Breath of Life. Savior. Friend. Holy God Almighty. Thank you for this new study.
It seems to me that by saying His name is I AM, He is declaring constancy; that will always be what He is. That He cannot act or behave in a way that is inconsistent with His character. I loved the readings for today.
Constancy. I love that! Thank you for this brief but profound insight Lisa!
I love the set up for this study. My new bible comes today and I’m so happy that this is the first study I get to do with it!
Yaweh means intimacy- a personal relationship with God. He’s MY God. What a beautiful thing.
I love that Jesus declares who he is with I am. And to leave no doubt, “Before Abraham was, I am.” in the midst of the Pharisees trying to trap him, He tells them straight up. What a mighty God we serve. He is so worthy of our praise.
It tells me that God is God, and He remains present (both in time and in place) with His children, always. Other things—like hurricanes, health/illness, careers, and human relationships—may wax and wane, and even vanish completely, but YHWH is there always. He holds us together, close to His heart, and we depend on Him alone for our existence, salvation, and joy. Because we are held by the One who is infinitely strong, trustworthy, and wise, and who loves us so dearly, we need fear nothing. Our souls are safe, and we can walk through each day in grateful freedom, feeling the richness of His blessing on our heads and His loving presence with every step.
Yes and Amen!
I love how the creators of this study are presenting this study. It has surely left us room to share, unguided by thoughts other than the facts of the names of God. Just look at the rich conversation we are having. Truly I AM is pleased to be among His daughters as we love this self-proclaimed name, YAWEH. His desire to reach us and love us and have an intimate relationship with us is staggering to my heart. Thank-you sisters for your sharing in these truths. God is so kind.
This name furthers his unrelenting desire to have a personal relationship with us! He wants us to come to him and he is always with us!
I love how in the scripture when Moses fears his own abilities God says, “Who am I?” How often do we doubt and need to remember no matter the difficulty of the situation, whether it’s change I our own self or a call He asks us to move in, He is YHWH, the God who was and is the same. Just as Moses could depend on Him so can we. He is fully present to our circumstances, He cares no less for us that He did for His people then. This is truth and such a good reminder as we start our day to be confident that He goes b4 us.
Amen
I’m struck by the fact that In telling us his name He revealed His character as well. He is, He always has been and always will be, and has never changed for a moment, regardless of my commitment! Jesus as YHWH was a part of that as well. His very name reminds me there is nothing to fear and that I am and always have been secure in His plan. I LOVE the comment about how our breath reveals our creator. That just by being his creation we speak to the world of who He is and His character. I’m in awe that He saw fit to share His name with us. He could have withheld that knowledge and yet he doesn’t. He allows us, however imperfectly, to know him!
Yes! Sharing one’s name is a personal thing and the fact that an Almighty God did just that reveals His heart of connecting with us and have a relationship with us.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
tmy glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Isaiah 42:8
This verse stuck out to me today. Oh, God, You alone are worthy!
I AM. He is totally present. In every age, every season, every circumstance, I AM is right there. Front and center. Fully engaged. This is incredibly impactful. I was sitting at dinner the other day in a nice restaurant. As I looked around I was amazed at how many dinner guests had their heads bowed – not in prayer before their meals but had bowed their heads because they were looking at their cell phones. They had a perfectly fine human being, perhaps a significant other, right in front of them but they were interacting with a handheld device. They were not fully present. How hurt the other person sitting across from them must feel, that they were not worthy of their undivided attention. How awesome that our God, the God is the entire universe, the Creator of all, is I AM: present and involved and focused. He deems me interesting and worthy of His full attention. How can I then give Him anything less? May I keep my eyes and my heart and my mind fixed on Him. He is I AM and I am His beloved. LORD, help me to be attentive to You.
Goodness, that scene that unfolded in that restaurant is copied around the world. We see it every day and I have even been guilty of it. We used to have a rule as a family that when we gathered at a restaurant all phones had to go in the middle of the table. The first one to pick theirs up? Paid the bill!! We need to get back to that and I need to return to putting my Lord first, in all things. Thank you for the reminder! ♥
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this comment. I really needed to see the part where you said, “He deems me interesting and worthy of His full attention.” I have been struggling lately over the “fact” that I am not someone’s “favorite person”. I see this favor all of the time in so many human relationships and it is something I desire for my own life. But how could I be so blind? So blind to the fact that I have been favored by an everlasting God. God is always willing and waiting for me to speak to Him and tell me all about my day. So willing to cry with me over the same dumb boy over and over. So willing to forgive my sins before I can even commit them. Our Lord is a beautiful One.
Churchmouse your way with words spoke to me again. “He is I AM and I am His beloved.” spoke to my heart. I hope you don’t mind I will be putting it on an index card and putting it on my mirror.
A few months ago our pastor preached on the name Yahweh and, although I don’t remember the specifics, he talked about how saying the name Yahweh in the original Hebrew, the Israelites would make that sound by inhaling a breath on the “Yah” part and exhaling on the “weh” part. Thus, throughout their day, they were encouraged to be conscious of the God who was in their very breath, every breath, every second, every minute, every day. Try it.
I have heard that before but forgotten! Our very breath indeed. Thanks for sharing and yes, I tried it! ♥
Thank you. I did – try it.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing.
❤️
Oh my, I love what you shared! thank you!
Thank for sharing this. Wow it tried it and I am going try and remember to do this throughout the day.
Amen!!
Based on these passages, YHWH emphasizes God’s character as pure, ageless, and powerful. YHWH shows God as the One who lays down the law, and takes deadly revenge on those who rebel against it. YHWH guards and guides His people with an ever-burning pillar of fire. YHWH is the One that prophets have trembled and fallen on their face before.
YHWH is the just God that I do not deserve to look at. By right, I should die the moment I enter His presence. He is awesome beyond what my tiny brain can understand without exploding.
It makes me so thankful that YHWH also abounds in mercy and love, and His eternal grace allows me to be in His glorious presence for eternity.
I’m so excited for this study on the Names of God!!
Really great song by Rend Collective called Yahweh and it goes along with the name Yahweh being our breath. I love that idea, that every breath we take is proclaiming God’s name. We are dependent on him, down to our every breath. We can’t help but praise him because that’s what we were made to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd7R1H79Vok
Whenever I hear “I am” as the name of God, it reminds me how permanent God’s character is. We try to fit God into molds sometimes, wanting him to give us the things we want, wanting his character to be a certain way, and just creating him into the perfect God for us. What we forget is that God has always been the perfect God, and he always will be. It’s reassuring to know that he will always be the same, no matter how inconsistent we are.
Amen!!
Love Kristin
Oops. Had a technical issue there. I was just going to say that I love what you wrote. It was a good reminder that God never changes. Thanks for sharing. :)
God is a relational God which is why Yahweh is such a fitting name. God doesn’t need us but he chooses to love us. He also allows us to choose him. He is not a tyrant. We choose to surrender our lives to Him and to follow him. Everyday I choose who I am following.
Amen
I love learning about the names of God and am so excited for this study.
The God of love, joy and peace will always and forever be the same. He will always love me because that is who He is. To wrap my mind around that… that is the hard part.
In describing YHWH, the word “covenantal” is used repeatedly. When I studied covenants, I was refreshed by the act or tradition and I have asked God to enter into a covenant with me repeatedly. When entering a covenant with someone you would exchange your cloak for their cloak. There were other exchanges that took place beyond their cloaks. So, I will ask God to enter into a covenant with me and exchange my fear for His peace, my sadness for His joy, my hate for His love, and so on. YHWH is the name that reminds me that God is a covenantal God! I am, We are so blessed to have such a God! YHWH is!
❤️
Love the description of covenant- the exchange of my cloak to His. I will begin to ask God to enter into covenant with me as well, and take my insecurities and need to “achieve/earn” for His steadfast love and faithfulness mercies ❤️
so so good !!
Sometimes I think of God as too superior (though I’m not sure that’s exactly the right description) to be so personal with me as to enter into a covenant…a binding agreement. I have allowed rejections and disappointments from the past to keep me from fully accepting this intimate connection that the God of all creation desires to have with me.
Thank you for reminding me: God has chosen to be in a relationship with His people–with me and Yahweh will accept the offer of my “cloak” of burdens for His “cloak” of grace, mercy and peace.
Kay accept the relationship and covenant He offers He is and always will be there for you
Oh, Kay! I just prayed that you would be aware of God’s cloak and how it is wrapped around you. Not just that but also the awareness that He has taken away your old cloak, the cloak of rejection, sin, disappointments, illness, and more! Love you sister!
I love this and didn’t think of it this way thanks for the insight now to start my covenant with God.
This name of God reminds me to have the right perspective of God with each breath I take. When I breath in – YH – when I breath out – WH. To remember with each breath that I am apart of the I AM’s story. The greater, ultimate story of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This changes my perspective today as I teach my 4-5 yr olds. Nothing that I face is stronger than I AM.
Amen! Our God is so mighty and holy and yet a personal God who seeks to be with us. Praise the name of the Lord – Yahweh
I once heard a teaching on the name YHWH. There are no vowels, so pronouncing it correctly is something like a whisper sound: YH (say it as you breathe in) WH (your exhale). The teacher made the connection that as we breathe, we say God’s name. He designed us that way, to say his name with every inhale and exhale! We live without our breath, and we can’t breathe without God. What a beautiful thought.
How beautiful, amen!
Beautiful indeed! My husband’s OT professor in college always whispered YHWH when he taught. My husband still (20 years later) talks about how profound that was.
Love this!
Thank you for this, Kristine. What a beautiful thing to know.
So beautiful!
Truly is so beautiful! Every conscious/waking/breathing moment of our lives, we are reminded of who’s presence we are in and yes, Bethany, it’s just so profound!
Amen that is a beautiful thought
Well said! Thank you for putting this into words for me!
This is so vitally important to know. My middle school girls class just studied Exodus 34:4-7 yesterday & became blown away by who He says He is. So good!!! Love the artwork in the book!
I love that when God revealed His name to Moses it was a name that emphasized the truth that He is a personal God, who desires an intimate, covenental relationship with us.
Thank you so much for this! This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of who the Lord is, and not only what He does! Indeed He is a Compassionate, Gracious and Merciful God! We praise the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel that there is indeed none other like Him!
This is going to be an amazing 21 day study! I’m obsessed already.
Praising God that He is….
Life without (who) He is, has no true and lasting meaning…
He is.
He is.
YAHWEH.
Amen..
Sending Monday love out to each and every one of you my dears… Be Blessed. Xxxx
Amen. Didn’t hear much from across the pond last study, hope all is well. Sending my love back and you be blessed too.
I’m so excited for this!❤️ I’m still pretty new to this so I’m looking forward to gaining more knowledge and understanding! Some more things I learned on the meaning of Yahweh from some more research:
Yahweh = “I Am”
-He never had a beginning. Nobody made God. God simply is and always was.
-God will never end. If He did not come into being He will cannot go out of being, because he is being.
-God is absolute reality. There is no reality before Him. There is no reality outside of him unless he wills and makes it. He was all that was eternally. Only God.
-God is utterly independent He depends on nothing to bring him into being or support him or counsel him or make him what he is.
-Everything that is not God depends totally on God. The entire universe is utterly secondary. It came into being by God and stays in being moment by moment on God’s decision to keep it in being.
-All the universe is by comparison to God as nothing. Contingent, dependent reality is to absolute, independent reality as a shadow to substance. As an echo to a thunderclap. All that we are amazed by in the world and in the galaxies is, compared to God, as nothing.
-God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cannot be improved. He is not becoming anything. He is who he is.
-God is the absolute standard of truth and goodness and beauty. There is no law-book to which he looks to know what is right. No almanac to establish facts. No guild to determine what is excellent or beautiful. He himself is the standard of what is right, what is true, what is beautiful.
-God does whatever he pleases and it is always right and always beautiful and always in accord with truth. All reality that is outside of him he created and designed and governs as the absolute reality. So he is utterly free from any constraints that don’t originate from the counsel of his own will.
-God is the most important and most valuable reality and person in the universe. He is more worthy of interest and attention and admiration and enjoyment than all other realities, including the entire universe.
Hope this also helped others go deeper into the meaning and understanding of the name Yahweh (I Am)❤️❤️
Thanks Victoria!
This is so true! Thanks Victoria!
I love and am thankful for your research Victoria…
I love this though .. ‘Everything that is not God depends totally on God.’ A big Amen to that..
Faithful one so unchanging.. ageless one you’re my rock of peace, Lord of all I depend on you…I call out to you, again and again, I call out to you, again and again… Lord you are my rock, my hope, my peace…
YAHWEH.
HE IS..
AND WILL ALWAYS BE..
YAHWEH.
Victoria you have a beautiful way with words and you use it well for the Lord. I love to read what you have wrote.
Victoria, thank you SO much for sharing this! It definitely helped me to better understand the scope of the meaning of Yahweh!
Thank you!! That was very helpful!!
Thank you! This was helpful!
Amén! He is the Great I am ❤️❤️
I have always had difficulty understanding God saying He is I AM. Maybe I am incredibly stupid, and I was going to ask someone to explain it to me but I think you did with your first point…”God simply is and always was”. Am I right? I’m sorry to appear so dumb……Thanks for your research!
Mamie, you are not dumb or stupid! God is who He is and we can’t even begin to understand all He is completely. He reveals Himself to us as we seek Him and only He knows when/what we are ready to understand.
Victoria’s comment was super helpful! I love how she started with “God simply is and always was.” Yes, Mamie, you are correct, this is the answer to understanding God saying He is I AM. So simple, yet incredibly complex; and, only those seeking Him can begin to understand – just to then realize how much we don’t understand.
Mamie first of all you are not stupid, you are like me, for some of us it is harder to understand certain parts of the Bible. I have found different versions/translations help me understand it better. Secondly, yes you are correct Victoria hit it on the head with her first point…”God simply is and always was”. And third. as one of my teachers told me, no question is dumb or stupid or any person who asks?
What versions do you like Dorothy?
Thanks so much for this. I was excited to start this study but a little disappointed with the first one as it didn’t really tell you much. I didn’t realise Yahweh means I Am until I read your notes. Maybe the actual study books have more?