Exodus 6:2

• I am the LORD … God Almighty: Here, the Hebrew El-Shaddai is translated “God Almighty.”

  God was emphasizing that he was revealing himself in a new way. The patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) knew him especially as God Almighty. Now he was making his name Yahweh (LORD) known more fully to Moses and the Israelites.

  The point is not that the name Yahweh was completely unknown before. Rather, God was now showing more clearly what that name means through his powerful acts of rescue.

• by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them: The name LORD (Yahweh) appears often in Genesis. There are two possible explanations:

  1. The patriarchs did not know the name Yahweh, but God inspired Moses, who wrote Genesis, to use it. This was wherever God's grace and covenant-keeping nature were evident.

  2. While the patriarchs might have known the name Yahweh, they might not have seen God's nature as clearly as during the exodus and the Sinai covenant.

     In Hebrew, a person's name has more importance than in English. Names showed character and nature, and were not only labels (see, for example, Psalms 8:1, 9; 148:13).

     Here, make known implies intimate knowledge and experience. In this case, the patriarchs knew God’s name, but they did not know and experience his nature fully as he revealed himself in the exodus.

Once again, God clearly connected his present action with the promises he made to the patriarchs (Abraham and his family). God works in history in ways that show his faithfulness. He makes promises, and he keeps them.

God also planned to reveal more about himself than he had revealed to the patriarchs. This new generation would understand more about who he is and what he intends to do. They would especially learn more about the meaning and demands of the covenant (6:4–5).

Why does God redeem his people (6:6)? Why did he first reveal himself to Abraham? Why did he first reveal himself to Abraham?

God wanted the Israelites to belong to him as his own people. He also wanted to be their God (6:7). This mutual relationship was always his goal.

God’s purpose is for humankind to live in a loving and willing covenant relationship with him. In that relationship, people can become what he created them to be.

God renewed his promises. The offer of rescue emphasized the main question. Pharaoh asked: "Who is the LORD?" (5:2). While the Israelites needed rescue from slavery, their greater need was to know the Lord. The main purpose of God’s renewed promises was “you will know that I am the LORD your God” (6:7).