#16 The Self-Existent One

The Book of Genesis Day 16 Ge 2:4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, It is here in this verse that the name Yahweh (LORD) is first found in the Bible. The word is used a total of 6823 times in the Old Testament! It means, “self-existent one,” (Try to wrap your brain around that thought!) This is the name God gave to Moses at the burning bush when Moses asked who was sending him to the children of the Israelites. God identified Himself as I Am (Yahweh) The name is especially associated with God’s holiness, His hatred of sin, and His gracious provision for redemption. Yahweh, the self-existent one who is holy, hates sin, and yet, has a gracious provision for redemption! All four of these attributes are vital to understand in man’s relationship with God. We need to understand that God is the active self-existent one, He desires to be actively involved with our lives. Php 2:13 says, “ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” We need to understand that God is holy. The essence of the word is “other.” While you and I are tainted with sin, He is totally not! He is other! We need to comprehend how deeply God hates sin. Sin separates us from God! Isa 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; “ Finally we need to understand that He has a gracious plan to restore our fellowship with Him, forgiving our sins, blotting them out, so that we might be in holy fellowship with Him again. This removal of sin and restored fellowship was made possible by the cross, where God’s only Son, Jesus Christ satisfied the anger of God against sin and paid the price, so that “whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It is fitting that these attributes of God be brought out at the dawn of the creation of man and woman, because with the free will of man, they will be needed to be understood sooner than later. Reflect: Look up your name on the internet. What does it mean? Is it fitting? Can you fathom something that is self-existent? Name something that seems like it’s always existed. Why do you think it is important for people to know that God is actively involved in their lives. Give an example of His active involvement in yours. Pray: Father, I truly can’t comprehend Your eternal existence. Thank You for Your desire to spend it with me and others. Guard my faith that I may one day be with You forever.