God first revealed His covenant name, "Yahweh", to Moses. "And God said to Moses, "I AM Who I AM.......This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation" (Ex. 3:14-15). Until this time the children of Israel, including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, had not known God as Jehovah, but by the name of God Almighty (Ex. 6:3). At this time, God began to reveal to His people the full meaning of His redemptive name. Jehovah means "the self-existent one" or "eternal one who reveals himself". The Lord told Moses that this was His name forever. It was to be a memorial to remind Israel that God's word of promise, God's covenant with them, was forever. He is eternal and unchangeable, and therefore faithful and unchangeable in His word and promises as well as in His nature. As different needs arose among the children of Israel during their history, the Lord revealed Himself as the one who could meet those needs.
Jehovah's names reveal His redemptive relationship to us. The benefit promised by each name points to Calvary and was obtained for Israel and for us by the atonement. The Lord Jesus identified himself with Jehovah of the Old Testament: "I am the way, the truth, and the life...........I am the door.....before Abraham was, I am" (John 14:6; 10:7; 8:58).
In the Old Testament, there
are seven redemptive names of the Lord which demonstrate that He is capable
of meeting every area of human need. Jehovah's seven names are found
in:
(Clicking on a link below will open a new window)
Genesis 22:14 Jehovah Jireh
Exodus 15:26 Jehovah Rapha
Exodus 17:15 Jehovah Nissi
Judges 6:24 Jehovah Shalom
Psalm 23:1 Jehovah Rohi
Jeremiah 23:6 Jehovah Tsidkenu
Ezekiel 48:35 Jehovah Shammah
