THE NAMES OF GOD

NAMES OF GOD IN THE BIBLE: A DISPENSATIONAL APPROACH : PROF. M. M. NINAN
Note that the Torah states that it was the Angel of the LORD (i.e., Malakh Adonai: who appeared to
Moses "in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" (Exod. 3:1-2). But then the Torah goes on to say
that the LORD saw Moses drawing near to the bush and then the Lord is
ldentified God (i.e., Elohim) as calllng out to him. God (i.e., Elohim) then commanded Moses to
remove his sandals and declares Himself as the "God of Abraham (i.e., Elohei Avraham),the God of
Isaac (i.e., Elohei Yitzchak),and the God of Jacob (i.e.,Elohei Ya'akov:)"
In this short and dramatic account we have several Names of God presented -
the Angel of the LORD, the LORD, God (Elohim), and the "God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob" -
all of which refer to the One God who had been experienced by the three founding fathers of the
nation of Israel.
“I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Yahweh I did not
make myself known to them’ (Exodus 6:3).
This understanding of the name meant that ancient fathers knew him as a powerful god above other
gods, but not as the self-existent God.
At the burning bush scene we have these names clearly given for the God of Israel who appeared to
Moses.
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