We are in chapter nine of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים The LORD or YHWH the God of the Hebrews. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament, 2 times in our chapter. Let’s look at all of these uses. Exodus 3:18 Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָֽעִבְרִיִּים֙ ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ This is the first time Moses appears to Pharaoh and this is how God instructs Moses to identify him the one sending Moses to Pharaoh with this request. Exodus 7:16 Then say to him, יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָעִבְרִים֙ ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. Exodus 9:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” Exodus 9:13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
We have already looked at these words separately so let’s have a quick review. עִבְרִי Hebrew, Eberite or descendant of Eber, region on the other side, situated across a stream, or the sea. So it’s origin was probably referring to people who were foreigners to those who named them. Abraham was the foreigner to the people living there. So they called him the one from the other side. So Eber or Hebrew became the way people described the people group or ethnicity. אֱלֹהֵ֣י or God is the generic title like deity. The focus is on the power of God in that ability to do only things God can do. We find the word in creation and miracles. Then יְהוָה֙ LORD, YHWH, or I AM which we find used as the relational God who makes agreements with his people. And this idea from the root of the word of ever existing, eternal, reality. I find this interesting that God uses this phrase for Moses to address Pharaoh with most of the time. Two times Israel is used instead of Hebrews and the times that this phrase is not used the LORD or YHWH is always used. With all of these names the LORD or YHWH or I AM is the one that is always used I think for emphasis. When Pharaoh has finally had enough and wants them to go he refers to God as the LORD the person that he said he didn’t know he now refers to him as the reality or eternal ever existing reality God. Remember at the beginning when Pharaoh correctly stated that he didn’t know the LORD and would not let the people go. People who do not know God think worship is a waste of our time and theirs. But after so many of these plagues Pharaoh is getting acquainted with God through these experiences. God himself identifies what Pharaoh should be learning about him that he should humble himself and follow his instruction. God has been filling in the meaning of these names through these experiences he is making Pharaoh have with him. Notice that God didn’t make Pharaoh do what he wanted but he does control the consequences that Pharaoh is now forced to face because of his freewill actions. Pharaoh has learned firsthand that God is reality because whatever God desires becomes reality. The question for Pharaoh and us is are we going to join God and experience the right side of reality which is the one that benefits us or resist God and miss out on God’s blessings. I’ll close with God’s question to Pharaoh. Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
