Shalom!

 
The Name Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey, translated in most English versions as "LORD" is on display in this week's reading:
 
Shemot/Exodus 6:2 And Elohim spoke to Moshe and said to him: "I am YHWH. 3 "I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya'acov, as El Shaddai, but by My name YHWH I was not known to them.
 

There is much discussion on what it means that "by My name YHWH I was not know to them", since it is obvious that the Name YHWH was used even as early as the Garden, and many times afterwards:

 

 
Bereshith/Genesis 4:1 Now Adam knew Chavah/Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from YHWH."
 

So what could the meaning be of this curious phrase in Shemot 6:2 - "by My name YHWH I was not known to them"?

 
We know that the patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov knew the Name YHWH; yet we wonder, what was not revealed to them about this Name? We also know that the patriarchs were great men of Yah, believing as we are told in the book of Hebrews in the covenant promises, but not living long enough to see those promises fulfilled:
 
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
 
So now, at this appointed time in Egypt, YHWH is about to begin to move on behalf of those original covenant promises He made to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov. This covenant connection will be how His Name will be truly known to the children of Israel, and how it will also be known in the future to those who believe like the patriarchs did, in the covenant promises. At the peak of oppression in Egypt, the mystery of His Name, as a covenant-keeping Elohim begins to unfold. Continuing in Shemot:
 
Shemot/6:4 "I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 "And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.
 
This connection between His Name and His covenant is definitely being brought to our attention. Then, as further evidence, He goes on to give us the famous "I will" statements that we are so familiar with from Pesach/Passover. Note all the "I will's" are sandwiched between the declarations of His Name:
 
Shemot/Exodus 6:6 "Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am YHWH; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 'I will take you as My people, and I will be your Elohim. Then you shall know that I am YHWH your Elohim who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 'And I will bring you into the Land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'acov; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am YHWH.' "
 
Notice these first "I will's":
  • I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rescue you from their bondage
  • I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
  • I will take you as My people
  • I will be your Elohim
In the next few weeks, we will continue to read in Shemot how He accomplishes these "I will's" and as a result - Shemot 6:7 -
 
Then you shall know that I am YHWH your Elohim
 
However, the above proclamation of knowing His Name stands alone, as if after the revelation of His Name and their rescue from Egypt, there will be a space in time before the final "I will" of the Land inheritance. Yet we know that if the revelation of the Name is connected to the fulfillment of the covenant promises, then the Land inheritance (6:8) is a sure thing:
 
Bereshith/Genesis 12:7 Then YHWH appeared to Avram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land."
 
Bereshith/Genesis 26:2 Then YHWH appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Avraham your father. 4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed
 
The question is, "when will the descendants of Avraham be given the Land and the Name fully revealed?" After the 40 year exodus, we see this commission given to Yehoshua/Joshua:
 
Devarim/Deuteronomy 31:23 Then He inaugurated Yehoshua/Joshua the son of Nun, and said, "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you."
 

Yehoshua was faithful to this commission and as a result:

 
Yehoshua/Joshua 21:43 So YHWH gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it... 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which YHWH had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
 
Through the fulfilling of His covenant promises, the Name YHWH was progressively revealed. However, because of disobedience, the children of Israel were evicted from the Land. The Torah will later speak about this, and even as the tribes took possession of the Land, Yehoshua told them:
 
Joshua 23:15 "Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which YHWH your Elohim promised you, so YHWH will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the YHWH your Elohim has given you.
 
But YHWH's ultimate plan is one of restoration, and the covenant promises will not fall short in the future:
 
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of Elohim are irrevocable.
 
The Land of Israel is so important to YHWH that the prophet Ezekiel is told to "prophesy to the mountains of Israel" as restoration is promised to occur. I encourage you to read along with this week's parashat Va'era, Ezekiel 36 and 37 to see all the parallels. Here are a few things for you to look for:
  • Israel's return to the Land - all tribes
  • They will know that "I am YHWH"
  • He begins to act for the sake of His Holy Name
  • Living in the Land is associated with keeping His Torah
  • One Shepherd/One King
  • This restoration is forever!
This week I want to share with you a video by Muslim born Kasim Hafeez - A changed heart. Kasim tells the story of how he was brought up in England to hate Jews, Christians and the West. His life turned around after an honest search for truth. It seems appropriate to share after reading in Ezekiel the promise that YHWH will change the hearts of His people.
 
 
If you would rather read an article about Kasim, find it here - Kasim - Zionist and lover of Israel
 
Shabbat Shalom!
Ardelle