Have you ever heard the voice of God? I mean, not just a provoking, not just a feeling, but an actual, audible voice?

I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t. But I know people who say they have. Maybe some of you have as well. And I’ve often wondered, what would I do if I heard the voice of God? Would I panic? Would I question my sanity? Would I lean in… or run the other way?

One thing I know for certain is that it would be extraordinary.

And yet, if we’re honest, many of us long for that kind of interaction with God. We think, “God, if you would just sit down with me over a cup of coffee or tea and explain things, life would be a lot easier.” Or maybe you’ve said, “I just wish God would tell me exactly what to do, and I’ll do it.”

You may not have heard God's audible voice, but the good news is that we do have a way to communicate with God. Through prayer. Through His Word. Through the work of His Spirit in our lives. We serve a God who desires relationship, who speaks, who leads, and who draws near.

But there’s still something in us that wishes we could see Him, touch Him, or have a face-to-face conversation. It can sometimes feel like God was more visible, more tangible in biblical times than He is today.

But that’s not actually true. God is just as present. Just as active. Just as engaged today as He was then. And that brings us to our focus this morning.

This message is part of our series, “The Names of God,” and today we’re looking at a moment in Scripture where God reveals His personal name, His identity, to Moses. And in doing so, He reveals something about who He is, and what that means for us.

Exodus 3
This is one of the most fascinating scenes in the Book of Exodus. Moses is out in the wilderness, tending sheep; just another ordinary day. And then suddenly, he sees something that stops him in his tracks, a bush that is on fire, but not burning up. Now that alone would get your attention.
But the story takes a turn when the bush starts talking. Now we’ve moved from interesting to unforgettable.

The bush calls out, “Moses! Moses!” And instead of running, Moses responds. He starts to approach the bush. And the voice tells him to remove his sandals, because he is standing on holy ground. Think about that moment. Moses is in the presence of the holy, living God. God identifies Himself: “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And then God reveals His purpose.

He has seen the suffering of His people in Egypt. He has heard their cries. He knows their pain. And He is coming to rescue them. And here’s the key: He’s going to do it through Moses.

Naturally, Moses responds as most of us would: “You’ve got the wrong person.” He questions his ability. He doubts his worth. He fears Pharaoh. He feels completely inadequate. And God responds with one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture: “I will be with you.”
But Moses still has one more question.

“If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

 And this is where things get a bit complex.

 “I AM WHO I AM”
God responds to Moses’ question, “who are you?” God’s response has raised a lot of debate, because God’s response alludes to Him saying, “It doesn’t matter what my name is, I AM WHO I AM.”

In Hebrew, this corresponds to the name YHWH, often called the tetragrammaton (four letters). This name appears over 6,500 times in Scripture. A note, whenever you see LORD in all capital letters in your Bible, that’s YHWH or Yahweh.

Now here’s where it gets more complex: we don’t actually know how to pronounce His name. The ancient Israelites considered this name so holy that they would not say it out loud. Instead, they would substitute the word Adonai, meaning “Lord.”

To help readers remember this, they combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai, creating a hybrid form that later generations misread as “Jehovah.” (we’ll talk about this at a later date). But originally, it was never meant to be spoken. Because this name is sacred.
It’s not a title; it’s a revelation of who He is.

What Does the Name Mean?
When God says, “I AM WHO I AM,” or the more literal translation is, “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE”. He is revealing something about His nature. This name carries some weight; at its core, it points to two primary truths:

1. God is Self-Existent: God is not dependent on anything or anyone. He does not need us. He does not rely on creation. He simply is.
   
   Everything else in existence is dependent. Everything else has a beginning. Everything else is sustained by something outside of itself. But not God.
   He is the eternal one. The one who has always been and always will be. He doesn’t become; He is.
   
   
2. God is Present and Personal: But here’s what makes this name even more powerful. Yahweh is not just a distant, abstract force. He is present. He is near. He is involved.
   
   When God reveals His name to Moses, He is not saying, “Stay back.” He is saying, “I am with you.” This name becomes deeply personal for Israel. It’s the name tied to covenant, relationship, rescue, and presence. Yahweh is not just the Creator; He is the God who walks with His people.
   
   

From Elohim to Yahweh
Earlier in Scripture, we see the name Elohim, which emphasizes God’s power as Creator. But here, in Exodus 3, God reveals something more intimate. Yahweh shows us that God is not just powerful, He is also personal, immanent, and with us.

Application: What Does This Mean for Us Today?
So what do we do with all of this? We know, for the most part, His name. We see His power. We understand the theology. But how does this change the way we live? Let me give you three takeaways.

1. God’s Name Describes Who He Is​: When God reveals His name, He is revealing His character. He is:

• ​​Self-sufficient – He needs nothing from us
• Creator – Everything exists because of Him
• All-powerful – Nothing is beyond His control
• Present and near – He is with us
  
  This means our view of God matters. If we see God as weak, distant, or uninvolved, we will live with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. But when we understand who He truly is, we begin to trust Him more deeply. We realize that the same God who spoke from the burning bush is the same God who walks with us today.

2. God Is With Us When He Calls Us
Moses didn’t feel qualified. He didn’t feel ready. He didn’t feel capable. And neither do we.
When God calls us, whether it’s to lead, to serve, to speak, or to step out in faith, our first response is often, “I can’t.” But God never asks us to rely on our ability. He calls us to rely on His presence.

“I will be with you.” That’s the promise. You don’t need to have it all together. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to trust the One who does.

3. God’s Name Is Unknowable… But He Is Not
This is where it gets really important. God’s name is mysterious. It’s complex. It’s beyond full human understanding. But that does not mean God is distant.

God is not unknowable. In fact, He has gone out of His way to make Himself known. Through His Word. Through His Spirit. And ultimately through Jesus Christ.

In John 8:58, Jesus says, “Before Abraham was even born, I AM.” He takes the very name of God… and applies it to Himself. Because He is God in the flesh. He is the invisible God made visible. The distant made near.

So yes, there are things about God we will never fully comprehend. But we can know Him. We can walk with Him. We can trust Him.

Closing Thought
This morning, we’ve only scratched the surface of the name YHWH. I’ll be honest—this is one of those studies where you can go down rabbit holes that never seem to end… and I’m already there myself. But even with all the depth and complexity, we don’t have to walk away confused—we can walk away grounded in something simple and certain.

Moses walked up to a burning bush out of curiosity…but he walked away with a calling—and a clear revelation of who God is.

And that same revelation has been given to us.

We serve a God…
who is self-sufficient… He is.
who is all knowing… He is omniscient
who is not distant… He is near.

He is the God who was, the God who is, and the God who always will be.

That’s personal.

Right now, in your uncertainty… He is.
In your calling… He is.
In your questions, your doubts, your next step… He is.

He has not stepped back.
He has not gone silent.
He has not left you to figure this out on your own.
He is Yahweh.
“I AM.”

​And the same God who spoke from that burning bush is the same God who is present with you right here and right now.

 Introduction
We all have at least one thing in common: we all have a name. Some of us have unique names, while others have more common ones. Some were named after a friend, a relative, or even a biblical figure; a person, a place, or an angel. Some people love their names, while others don’t and may choose to go by a middle name or even change their name altogether. For some, their name carries deep meaning and connection. For others, it may have been chosen simply because their parents liked the way it sounded.

At its core, a name serves as an identifier. It distinguishes you from everyone else.
But when we come to the Bible, we find that names carry far more weight than that. A name meant something. It wasn’t chosen at random or simply because it sounded good. A name often reflected a person’s character, their circumstances, or even a defining moment in their life. For example, the name Adam means “man,” Eve means “woman,” Jacob means “heel holder,” and Esau means “hairy.” Names told a story.

It was also common for God to change a person’s name after a significant moment or encounter. We see this with Abram becoming Abraham, Sarai becoming Sarah, Jacob becoming Israel, Saul becoming Paul, and Simon becoming Peter. When God changed a name, He was revealing a new identity and a new purpose.

Today, we are beginning a new series titled The Names of God. As you read through Scripture, you will notice that God is referred to by many different names. Each one helps us understand something about who He is and what He has done. In this series, we will take time to look at these names, their meanings, and their significance.

Because in God’s name, His nature is revealed.

Now, before we go any further, I want to make an important clarification. None of the names we will study, nor any name found in Scripture, can fully define or completely describe God. After all, as one writer has said, a name imposes some limitation.

But what name could ever be adequate to describe the greatness of God? If the heavens cannot contain Him, how could a single name ever fully capture who He is?

The Old Testament contains many names and compound names for God that reveal different aspects of His character and His dealings with humanity. My purpose in this series is to study these names so that we can better understand who God is and how He relates to us.

Elohim
The first name of God we will look at is the one used first in the Old Testament: Elohim.

Elohim appears in the first chapter of Genesis thirty-two times. Genesis 1:1 begins with the words, “reʾshiyth elohim bara” or “In the beginning God created…”. It is also a very common name in the Psalms, appearing over 400 times, and it generally refers to the God of Israel.
Elohim is a complex name. It does not have a single, simple definition, but I will do my best to help us understand its meaning.

The word “El” is a general term for a deity that can be traced throughout ancient Middle Eastern and North African cultures, going back thousands of years. In many ancient texts, El is described as a father and a creator, often referred to as the “ancient one” or the “eternal one,” and depicted as merciful and kind.

This same word was also used in reference to the senior Canaanite god and even to a collection of gods in that region. In those belief systems, El was seen as ruling over key aspects of existence, such as the sea, fertility, weather, death, and creativity. He held the highest rank among the gods, though he was often portrayed as somewhat distant and not always actively ruling.

When Israel entered the land of Canaan, this word began to take on deeper religious significance. The writers of Scripture did not simply discard the language of the surrounding cultures. Instead, they used familiar terms and filled them with true meaning, expressing their understanding of the one true God, Yahweh.

So rather than adopting false beliefs, they redeemed the language to point to the truth.
As the language developed, the word “El” took on even greater meaning when combined with other terms. Throughout this series, we will see “El” paired with words that highlight specific attributes of God: His power, His strength, His sufficiency. When that general name is connected to a particular quality of who God is, it no longer feels generic. It begins to function more like a personal name, revealing something specific about His character.

The word Elohim means “deity” and is not gender specific. Elohim is often used in Scripture to refer to Yahweh, the one true God. The name carries the idea of creative power and governing authority of omnipotence and sovereignty.

Elohim points us to the infinite, all-powerful God who reveals Himself through His works. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Judge of all the earth. It is fitting that God would first reveal Himself by this name; the One who brings order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and life out of nothing.

This is the God who speaks, and it is done. The God who creates from nothing. The God whose word brings worlds into existence.

There is also a unique aspect to the name Elohim; it is plural.

In some places in Scripture, the word Elohim is used to refer to false gods. For example, in Exodus 12:12, God says, “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!” God will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. In Exodus 18:11, we read,“I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”  Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, declares the Lord is greater than all other gods. In Joshua 24:20, 23, Joshua says, “If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”  But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”  “Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.” The people are warned not to turn to other gods. In these cases, the word Elohim is used in a general sense to refer to foreign gods.

In other places, the term can even refer to spiritual beings, such as angels (1 Samuel 28:13; Psalm 82:6).

Because of this, some have been confused by the plural form of Elohim, wondering if it suggests that God is one among many. But that is not what the Bible teaches.

It is important to remember that while the people of Israel often turned to false gods, that does not mean those gods were real. It simply means they were unfaithful. The biblical writers could use familiar terms from surrounding cultures, but they used them to point to the one true God.

Some have suggested that the plural form of Elohim points us to something deeper about God’s nature. Some see in it an early hint of the Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, working together in creation. We see language like this in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’”  And again, in Genesis 3:22, “Then the Lord God said, ‘Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!”  While we must be careful not to read more into the text than is there, we can say this: the plural form reminds us that no single word can fully capture the fullness of who God is. He is greater than our language. Greater than our understanding.

So, what is a basic definition of Elohim?

Elohim is the Supreme God: The Creator and the Sovereign. He is all-powerful, completely self-sufficient, and in need of nothing. And yet, in His grace, He chooses to reveal Himself and enter a relationship with the people He created.

We see His power throughout Scripture. He speaks the world into existence. He opens the womb of barren women. He delivers His people out of Egypt. And ultimately, He raises Jesus Christ from the dead.

But this is not just a God of power; He is a personal God.

Elohim is also Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. He is the “Lord” revealed in Genesis 2 and in Exodus 3. He is the God who creates and redeems. When Scripture speaks of “the God of gods” (Psalm 136:2), it is declaring that He alone is supreme.

And this God desires a relationship.

He calls people to Himself. He invites us to worship Him. He reveals Himself fully through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1).

There is both comfort and assurance in this name. On one hand, it reminds us that God is all-powerful, “yours is the power and the kingdom and the glory.” On the other hand, it reminds us that He is a covenant-keeping God, faithful to His promises.

He says to us, “I will be your God,” and we can respond, “My God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

Conclusion
So, what does all of this mean for us today?

It reminds us that when God reveals His name, He is revealing His character. In Scripture, names are never accidental. They are connected to identity, purpose, and relationship. When God attaches a name to Himself or to His people, He is showing us who He is and how He works in our lives. Just as He changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, and Simon to Peter, we are reminded that an encounter with God is never random; it brings transformation. He does not leave us as we are but reshapes our identity in accordance with His purposes.

And for us, that means we are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or even how others see us. We are defined by who God says we are. His name reveals His nature, and His nature assures us that He is faithful, powerful, and present in every season of life. When we call on His name, we are calling upon the One who has revealed Himself and has proven Himself faithful throughout history.

So, the question is “How will we respond?” Will we trust Him, follow Him, and allow Him to shape who we are?
​
When God reveals His name, He invites us into a deeper relationship with Him, and that is where true transformation begins.

Imagine, if you will, the story of Jesus concluding in John chapter 19 at the cross of Calvary.  Think about how dissatisfied you would be as a reader and as a follower of Jesus Christ?  Would you even be a believer?  I wonder if the disciples who had followed Jesus for the past 3 ½ years were staring at the lifeless body of Jesus hanging on the cross, thinking, “What a waste of time.” 
 
For these disciples, this was the end, the conclusion.  It was over.  Everything they were taught, believed, and even fought for seemed to be thrown out the window.  Prior to the crucifixion, Jesus spoke about eternal life, the abundant life, and the Kingdom of God.
 
However, the beautiful truth is the story does not end here.  In many ways, it is the beginning.  Had the story of Jesus ended with chapter 19, this book could not be called the Gospel of John, because the word "gospel " means "good news."  A dead Jesus in a tomb is not good news.  But a risen Jesus who ascends to the Father is, in fact, Good News.  In the remaining chapters of John, we see the disciples will finally understand the purpose of all that has happened.  They will see that this story does have a happy ending, and it ends as any good, satisfying story does: “And they lived (or will live) happily ever after (in this life and in the life thereafter).”
 
The Empty Tomb
John 20:1 – 10

It is early morning on the first day of the week, Sunday.  Historically, the Jewish observance of the Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and concludes at sundown on Saturday.  In this account, it is Sunday morning when it is still dark out.  
 
Mary Magdalene was at the tomb (with other women).  John does not mention the other women, but the synoptic Gospels mention other women present who had come to tend to the body of Jesus.  Even in death, Mary Magdalene was completely devoted to Jesus. As she approached the tomb, she noticed the large stone had been rolled away from the opening.  The tomb was under guard by order of Pontius Pilate and sealed with Pilate's seal of authority.  We are told in other gospel accounts that she was informed that Jesus was not in the tomb, he had risen from the dead (Matthew 28). She immediately went to find Peter and, presumably, John to tell them what happened.  
 
In John’s account, the disciples and Mary assumed Jesus’ body had been stolen or moved. Upon hearing this news, both Peter and John ran to the tomb, and John felt it was important to note that he was faster than Peter.  We are not sure why the detail is there, but I find it curious and funny, and I wondered if the two of them had a little bit of a competitive edge.  
 
Upon reaching the tomb, John bent down and looked in, and noticed the burial clothes were in tatters.  John arrived first, but Peter was the first to enter the empty tomb.  In most instances, the tomb opening was only 3 feet high.  A grown adult would probably have to crawl in through the opening. 

Inside the tomb, they find something strange. The burial cloths are there, but they are not in disarray like you would expect from a grave robbery. The cloth that had covered Jesus’ face is folded and set apart.

John then enters, and the text tells us, “He saw and believed.”
They don’t yet understand everything. They don’t have the full picture. But something was different. There is an empty tomb; something extraordinary has happened. And then… they go home.

No shouting. No celebration yet. Just processing. Trying to make sense of what they’ve just seen.

Why the Resurrection Matters
At this point, we must ask the question: Why does the resurrection matter so much? The answer: Because everything hinges on the resurrection. We often emphasize the cross, and rightly so. Because without the death of Jesus, there is no atonement for sin. But we cannot stop at the cross. The story does not end on Good Friday.
Without the resurrection:

• There is no completed plan of salvation. Plain and simple, we cannot have the promised abundant life without the resurrection.
• There is no gospel, no Good News.
• Our faith is empty and useless (1 Corinthians 15).
• There is no new birth (1 Peter 1:3).
• There is no hope in life today or for eternal life.

According to Romans 1:4, Paul writes, “and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus did not become the Son of God at that moment; He has always been the Son of God, but the resurrection publicly reveals who He is.

And God, knowing our tendency to doubt, did not leave us with just an empty tomb. There are accounts of Jesus’ appearances, including multiple encounters in which people saw, spoke with, and even ate with the risen Christ.

Which brings us to John 21.
Sometime after the resurrection, the disciples are in Galilee, just as Jesus had told them. Peter says, “I’m going fishing.” The other disciples went along with Peter.

Some have criticized Peter here, suggesting he was abandoning his calling. I don’t see it that way. These men still had to eat. Fishing was what Peter knew. So, he returns to what he knows. He fishes all night… and catches nothing. That alone is frustrating. But then, at daybreak, a man on the shore calls out to him, “Have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they reply.
“Then cast your net on the right side of the boat.”

Now think about that for a moment. These are experienced fishermen. And yet they listen to a stranger on the shore. For some reason, they complied with the man’s suggestion. And when they did, everything changed. The net fills to the point where they can’t even haul it in.
At that moment, John recognizes who is ashore: “It is the Lord!” He yelled.

Peter doesn’t hesitate. In classic Peter fashion, he jumps into the water and heads straight for Jesus. The others follow in the boat, dragging the net full of fish behind them. I love this moment. This is the same Peter who denied Jesus three times. The same Peter who failed miserably at the moment of greatest pressure. And yet here he is, not running from Jesus, but toward Him.

This is a picture of love and grace.

When they reach shore, Jesus already has a fire going, with fish and bread prepared. Even in His risen state, He continues to serve them. They bring in the catch: 153 fish, John tells us. People have tried to find symbolic meaning in that number, but it’s most likely simply an eyewitness detail. Someone counted the fish, and John included it. The event has more meaning than the number.  The Lord commands them to cast the net; they are obedient, and it results in an abundance of fish. This matches up with Jesus’ earlier call to Peter in Matthew when He tells him that he will be fishers of men.  The net full of fish symbolizes the fruitful ministry the disciples will have post-resurrection.    

They sit down and eat together. And even though they know it is Jesus, there is still a sense of awe, almost hesitation. They don’t dare ask, “Is it really you?” They know… and yet the reality is almost too overwhelming to fully grasp.

John 21:15–19

After breakfast, Jesus turns to Peter. Three times, He asks him, “Do you love me?” This is not random. It mirrors Peter’s three denials. Where Peter once said, “I don’t know Him,” Jesus now gives him three opportunities to affirm, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
And each time, Jesus responds:
“Feed my lambs.”
“Take care of my sheep.”
“Feed my sheep.”

In other words: If you love me, then care for my people. This is restoration. This is a means of Peter’s restoration.  Prior to the crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times, and now the Lord gives him the opportunity to affirm his love for his Savior. He is not cast aside. He is forgiven, restored, and recommissioned.

And that is incredibly important for us. Because many believers feel they’ve gone too far. Like they’ve failed too badly. Like they’ve denied Christ in ways that can’t be undone.
But Peter’s story tells us otherwise. Jesus doesn’t demand perfection: He calls for repentance and love. And then He gives a call in life. “If you love me… feed my sheep.”

That applies to us as well. If we claim to love Christ, it should show in how we care for others, both believers and those who do not yet know Him.

This is the call of discipleship and evangelism.

Jesus then tells Peter something difficult: that one day, he will die in a way that glorifies God. Tradition tells us that Peter was eventually crucified upside down. And yet, knowing all of that, Jesus gives him a simple command:
“Follow me.”

Conclusion
So, what do we take from all of this? We take hope. Because Jesus lived, died, and rose again, this life is not all there is. Yes, this life matters. Yes, we are called to live fully and faithfully here. But we are also reminded that eternity is one breath away.

Because when you truly believe the gospel, when you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, you can face life and death differently. Not without emotion, but without fear.
Because that is the promise.

Jesus lived so that we might live.
Jesus died so that we might be forgiven.
Jesus rose so that we might rise again.

And because of that, we can face tomorrow with confidence.

We can live with purpose.
We can endure hardship.
We can love deeply.
We can serve faithfully.
​
Because the tomb is empty. And because He lives… we will live also.