Question:  God didn’t tell Moses His name, just “I am”.  Therefore, it is amazing to discover the name of God in the Bible.

            I John 2:9 -- he that says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness even until now.  He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.

            John tells us that light is the symbol for love, darkness is hate.  So we can substitute light with love.

            John 1:9 – That was the True Love, which loves every man that comes into the world.

            God is True Love, and that is His name.

            Another interesting thing is that God used symbols to explain spiritual things.  Once the meaning of a symbol is fulfilled, it is no longer needed, like circumcision or the temple.  The temple of God, true love, is in our hearts; therefore there is no need to rebuild the Jewish temple.

            Rolf

Answer:  Dear Rolf,

            Moses is not the only human to whom God revealed Himself.  God has revealed Himself to humans:

1.      personally, as recorded in the pages of the Bible

2.      in the Bible itself, as a special revelation of Himself

3.      in nature – the creation, as a natural revelation of the Creator.  The creation logically demands a power, force, etc., greater than itself.  God speaks to us in and through His creation.

Christians believe the most important revelation of God was in the person of Jesus, who, although he was God, also became flesh.  This is called the incarnation – the birth of God in the flesh.  After the death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection, several decades later the book of Hebrews (written just before the destruction of the Jewish temple, according to Herodian) states “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  (Hebrews 1:1-3)

            God has many names.  Love is without doubt his greatest attribute.

            You are correct, there is no need to rebuild the Jewish temple, for God “does not live in houses made by men.”  (Acts 7:48)

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht