What is the meaning of Exodus 6:3? I appeared The verse opens with God reminding Moses that He personally revealed Himself in history. This was not a vague influence but a real, tangible meeting with the patriarchs. • Genesis 12:7; 17:1; 26:2; 46:2–4 all record moments when God showed up and spoke. • Acts 7:2 echoes this reality, underscoring that the Lord of glory “appeared to our father Abraham.” • These appearances establish a pattern of divine initiative: God takes the first step, ensuring His people know Him and can trust His promises. to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob Each patriarch experienced God’s presence in ways suited to his moment of need, yet all three were bound by the same covenant thread. • Abraham—Genesis 15:1–6; 17:1–8: visions, covenant promises, and a name change. • Isaac—Genesis 26:24: reassurance in a season of conflict and famine. • Jacob—Genesis 28:10–15; 35:9–12: comfort in exile and confirmation of the covenant line. These encounters reveal God’s faithfulness across generations (Psalm 105:8–10), forming the backdrop for the Exodus. as God Almighty The title highlights God’s unstoppable power. • Genesis 17:1: “I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless.” • Genesis 35:11: “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply.” • Genesis 48:3–4: Jacob reminds Joseph that “God Almighty appeared to me … and said, ‘I will give you this land.’” By introducing Himself this way, God underscored His ability to protect, provide, and fulfill promises—even when circumstances looked impossible (Romans 4:18–21). but by My name the LORD The small-caps LORD marks the covenant name revealed in Exodus 3:14–15. • The patriarchs certainly used the name (Genesis 15:2; 24:12), yet here God signals a deeper unveiling of what the name means. • The coming plagues, Passover, and Red Sea deliverance would display the LORD as Israel’s Redeemer, not only their Creator (Exodus 7:5; 9:16). • Psalm 106:8 later reflects, “He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.” I did not make Myself known to them This statement contrasts degrees of revelation, not absence of information. • The patriarchs trusted promises; Israel would now witness performance. • They knew God could do anything; Israel would see Him overthrow an empire (Exodus 6:6–7). • Revelation progresses: what began as personal assurances blossoms into national redemption and a formal covenant at Sinai (Deuteronomy 4:32–35). summary Exodus 6:3 links past, present, and future. The God who truly appeared to the patriarchs as the all-powerful Protector now discloses the fuller weight of His covenant name through mighty acts of rescue. He is the same unchanging LORD, moving from promise to fulfillment so His people—and the watching world—may know Him in ever-richer ways. |
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