HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL: PART 2 - IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

His Name is Wonderful | Part 2 - In the Name of the Father

The very last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament contains a beautiful prophecy:

But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, and ye shall tread down the wicked. (Malachi 4:2, 3a, KJV)

scroll This prophecy is a promise that all who love, reverence and fear the name of the Almighty will grow up (in their spiritual understanding) and tread down all the lies of the wicked.  The prophecy further promises: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet . . . And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."  (Malachi 4:5, 6)

The Israelites applied this prophecy to the coming of the promised Deliverer.  They believed that Elijah himself would return from heaven to let everyone know Messiah had come.  Centuries later, when Peter, James and John saw Elijah standing with the Saviour when He was transfigured shortly before His death, they were confused.  They asked Him: "Why then say the scribes that Elias [Elijah] must first come?"

The Messiah knew that they were referring to this prophecy of Malachi and He gave a two-fold answer in reply:

"Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things.  But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed [wished]. . . . Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist."  (See Matthew 17:1-13.)

This is an intriguing reply.  It has two parts:

   "Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatever they wanted." The disciples clearly understood this to refer to John the Baptist who had proclaimed the Messiah's arrival.
   "Elias truly shall first come." This is even more intriguing because it is spoken in the future tense. There was an Elijah that was yet to come who had not come yet! What was the purpose of this future Elijah? To "restore all things!"

All have inherited errors and traditions passed down from paganism.  Often these traditions were handed down out of ignorance of the truth.  On other matters, such as the Holy name of the Creator, scribes and translators have actively changed what was originally written.  Now, in the closing days of earth's history, knowledge is being increased as promised in Daniel 12:4.  In the approaching "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation" (Daniel 12:1) those who are faithful to their Creator will need to exercise faith in His power to keep them and provide for their needs when every earthly support is cut off.

It is for "such a time as this" that the divine name is being restored.

"For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the . . . [the Creator], to serve Him with one consent."  Zephaniah 3:9

The personal name of the Heavenly Father is not "God" or "Lord."  These are merely titles and cannot inspire faith in Him as the Creator because they are words that are also applied to pagan gods, magistrates, titled members of the nobility or, a long time ago, even a husband!

There are a number of suggested names among those who want to use the Father's personal name.  One of the most common variations is Yahweh.  Another variant is Jehovah, which arose before it was understood that ancient Hebrew did not contain a "J" sound.  However a careful study of the Bible, comparing Scripture with Scripture, reveals that neither of these names is correct.

The true, personal name of the Omnipotent Creator is: Yahuwah.  Written without vowels, as it was in ancient Hebrew, it is spelled: YHWH.  While this may sound odd to modern ears, it is a name rich in meaning and beauty.  In the modern English alphabet, each letter represents a particular sound or sometimes two.  However, each letter in ancient Hebrew represented much more: pictograph (picture), syllable (name), mnemonic (meaning) and phonetic (sound).    

YHWH
semitic pictograph of an arm and hand
Semitic pictograph of an arm and hand. The early Semitic pictograph of the first letter is an arm and hand. The meaning of this letter is work, make and throw - all functions of the hand. The Modern Hebrew name “yud” is a derivative of the two letter word “yad meaning "hand," the original name for the letter.
The original pictograph for the next letter is a man standing with his arms raised. The original and Modern Hebrew for this letter is “hey.” The Hebrew word “hey” means “behold.” This word can also mean “breath” or “sigh” as one does when looking at a great sight. The meaning of the letter alt is behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. semitic pictograph: Behold
"Behold!"
semitic pictograph: nail
WAW: nail. The original pictograph used in the Early Semitic script for WAW is a alt , a picture of a tent peg. The tent pegs were made of wood and may have been Y-shaped to prevent the rope from slipping off.
The holy name ends in another "hey." In symbology, then, the name of the eternal Father in the ancient Hebrew reveals His plan of salvation through His only begotten Son: Hand, behold, nail, behold. How wonderful our Father is! semitic pictograph: Behold
"Behold!"

In Modern Hebrew, the name looks like this:1

Yahuwah in modern Hebrew

There are two ways words move between languages:

1.    Translation

2.    Transliteration

A word is translated when its meaning, its definition is expressed in the new language.  Sometimes, the words can be completely different.  For example, in English, the tall buildings that rise many stories high are called "skyscrapers."  In French, the term is "sky-scratchers."  Such substitution is perfectly acceptable in translation where the main thrust is to communicate the original meaning.

Transliteration is what is commonly done with names.  When a word is transliterated, the attempt is to find letters in the new language that come the closest to making the correct sound.  An example of this is found in the English name, John.  The Russian equivalent of John is "Ivan" . . . however that is not how "Ivan" is spelled in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet.  The letters between the Cyrillic alphabet and the English alphabet are completely different.  Therefore, although "Ivan" is translated into English as "John," it is transliterated from the Russian letters into "Ivan."

When it comes to understanding the personal name of the Creator, it is important to know both the meaning of His name (for that is what inspires faith) and how to pronounce it.

There are several variations in spelling: Yahuah, IOUA, IOUO, IAUE, etc.  However, using standard English rules of spelling and pronunciation, Yahuwah is the clearest spelling that provides the closest approximation of the original sounds.

Josephus the Jewish historian wrote that the set-apart name consisted of "four vowels" (Jewish Wars, 5. 5. 7.). Why did Josephus write this? Please consider the following thoughts.

Remember, Josephus was writing to a Greek audience! He first wrote his history [at least his notes] in Hebrew Aramaic (Antiquities 12.5. 1-4 footnotes; Against Apion 1. 9).  After the Jewish/Roman war, he had time, and with long perseverance, he mastered the Greek language, and compiled his history in Koine Greek, which was the international language of the world at that time.  Though it was the international language, do not think it was the every day language in Israel, for it was not!

Josephus frequently altered Hebrew names, spelling them after the fashion of the Greeks, "to please [his Greek] readers" (Antiquities 1. 5. 1.).  Josephus describes the head-gear worn by the Levitical priest:

"Of this was a crown made, as far from the hinder part of the head to each of the temples; but this ... did not cover the forehead, but it was covered by a golden plate, which had inscribed upon it the Name of (Elohim) in SET-APART CHARACTERS." (Antiquities 3. 7. 6. set-apart title and emphasis added).

The term HOLY CHARACTERS, means not just Hebrew letters, but the ancient Hebrew, known as Paleo-Hebrew, used in the time of Moses, and David.

Anciently, even the Greek language, like the Hebrew, was written from right to left. Also, the ancient Greek letters were similar to Paleo-Hebrew. Therefore, the ancient Greek would have written the set-apart name very similar to the ancient Hebrew, which appeared like this: alt .The Modern Greek equivalent would be written IHYH, and understood as IEUE. But do not think that this, in any wise, proves the pronunciation of the set-apart name. Josephus was writing to the Greeks, the equivalent of YHWH. It was from this [Greek form] that the heathen formed their Jeue, Jove, and Jeve (see Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 3:14)

It is true that the letters alt can function as vowel letters. Let us consider a few examples: the yod acts as a vowel in the words "Eli" (Mt 27:46) also #430 Elohim, #4899 Mashiach, ish (Gen 2:23 margin KJV) etc. Yet it also functions as a consonant in other words like #3050 Yah, #2968 ya ab, etc. Sometimes it acts as a vowel and a consonant all in the same letter, as in Eliyah, where it is a double yod.

"The alt is stronger and firmer than alt , and never loses it's consonantal sound in a middle of a word . . . . On the other hand, at the end of a word it is always a mere vowel letter, unless expressly marked by Mappiq as a strong consonant." (As in alt Yahh, and alt Eloahh) Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, p. 81

The waw alt also can act as a vowel in words like #452 Eliyahu, #3194 Yutah etc.. It also carries the "o" sound, as in #3117 yom. On the other hand, it acts like a consonant in words like #2331 chavah, actually the consonant is not a V, but as in Arabic, or as the English sound of "w".

Sometimes the alt acts like a vowel and a consonant all in the same letter; they can also be consonants, depending on the usage. Concerning the Set-Apart Name, the structure of the letters tell us that the yod is a consonant, as in the word YAH (Ps. 68:4 & Isa. 12:2; 26:4; 38:11 NKJV). Also the alt is a consonant, since "it never loses its consonantal sound in the middle of a word." Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, p. 81

Also, the waw alt always acts as a consonant when ending words alt (except in alt Eloahh). When Hebrew-words end with "uah" sound, it is expressed in Hebrew as alt or alt ; therefore, if the Hebrew word ends alt , it will always act as a consonant, ending like "wah" or "weh" etc.

The final alt in alt is the vowel letter in the set-apart name, "at the end of a word it is always a mere vowel letter." Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar p. 81

Conclusion: When Josephus said "four vowels", he was talking to his Greek audience trying to express the Tetragrammaton in a way that they would comprehend, trans-letter-ating from Paleo-Hebrew alt , which in Paleo Greek was alt , then into modern Greek, thus arriving with IHYH (literally IEUE.) 2

The Israelites never "forgot" the divine name. It was an integral part of many of their own names! It is from these other names that we get confirmation that the correct pronunciation of the divine name is not Jehovah, or Yahweh but Yahuwah: ya WHO uh, or sometimes YAH whuh.

Even in New Testament times, parents gave their children names containing part of Yahuwah's name:
#2197 Zacharias (ZacharYAHU - Yahuwah has remembered)
#2993 Matthew (MattithYAHU - gift of YAHUWAH)
#2491 John (Yahchanan - YAHUWAH favored)

Even Simon Peter's name, sometimes translated Cephas, was actually KephAH, meaning "my rock is Yahuwah."

In the ancient world, far more than today, people understood the power of the divine name.  It is possible that this understanding was at least partially responsible for the Israelite attempts to change or hide the name.  "In Egypt, for example, the concept of the 'concealed Name' was extremely common."3

Some scholars state that belief in the power within a god's name extended so far as to lead the followers to hide the name.  This was done because the people feared that if a personal (or national) enemy learned the name of their god, the enemy could entice that god away to aid himself!  It is possible that such a fear led the Israelites to try to hide the name of the Creator from their enemies.  What is far more likely, however, is that during the wars with Babylon and the subsequent Babylonian captivity, the name was deliberately hidden by unconsecrated priests in an attempt to guard it from blasphemy by the pagans.  (One must remember that the entire reason the Israelites were taken into Babylonian captivity was because they were not truly committed to the worship of Yahuwah.)

Jeremiah (whose name, YiremYAHU meant "exalted of Yahuwah") was the lone faithful prophet during the final dark days of Israel's fall to the Babylonians.  An insight into how the Israelites justified "hiding" the name of the Almighty is recorded in a passage where Yahuwah Himself speaks:

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in My name, saying I have dreamed, I have dreamed.  How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?  yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal.  (Jeremiah 23:25-27, KJV)

Whatever the reason, it is unfortunate that the very name on which all are to call has been so long unknown. Satan knows that the name of the Almighty contains the power that brought the universe into existence.  He also knows that all who call upon that name in faith, will receive an answer of peace.  It has greatly pleased the Devil to have the name buried and all but forgotten.

There is no excuse for hiding the name of the only One that is a very present help in trouble.  Salvation is of Yahuwah alone and in order to heed the instruction of scripture and call upon His name, all must know the name.

In this time of prevailing iniquity, a loving Creator is revealing His long-forgotten name: Yahuwah.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahuwah shall be delivered.  Joel 2:32

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of Yahuwah our Mighty One."  Psalm 20:7

Call upon the name of Yahuwah.  He will hear and answer the prayer of faith.

woman and daughter Grammar was always one of my most difficult subjects in school.  It did not matter that English was my native tongue, all those terms: predicate nominatives, stative and transitive verbs, subjunctive, present participle, past perfect progressive, dangling modifiers - it might as well have been a foreign language to me.  And the verbs of being: there were so many!  Am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, shall be, will have been, and on and on and on.  After yet another homework assignment ended in tears, my mother finally told me, "Look, forget the terms.  You know this already.  You have been raised to speak proper English.  Just write down what sounds right and you will get it correct."

She was right!  From then on, I had no more difficulties with answering the problems.  Although to this day I still cannot explain the difference between transitive, intransitive and ditransitive verbs, I can use them correctly in a sentence!  (And I ended up giving the same advice to my children: "Just be glad you are not learning English as a second language.  I have taught you correct usage.  Just write down what sounds right and you will be correct.")

Grammar is simply the rules any language has regarding how that language is to be correctly used.  When the languages were changed at the tower of Babel, they retained certain similarities of sentence construction and word categories.  Each new language had words for Deity, their family members, tools, foods, cattle, region, etc.  All languages still have nouns and verbs to show action and state of being.   Certain types of words are necessary in order to communicate.  Over the millennia, the sounds and eventually the spelling of words have changed, but the basic communication structure has remained.

"Names" fall under the category of nouns.  In fact, the word "noun" means "name."  Everything has a name, whether it is a person, a thing or an emotion.  Without names, it is not possible to communicate.  Sometimes other words can function as a name.  For example, Mother, Father, Aunt, Grandfather, etc. are all titles that serve as names.

There is nothing inherently wrong with using titles to apply to Yahuwah.  He used titles Himself to designate what He is: He is Elohim, the Almighty.  Titles have limitations, however.  Titles may explain that Yahuwah is the Almighty Creator, but a title does not reveal Who He is.  Knowledge of the meaning of His personal name is necessary for that.  Thus, it is truly unfortunate that the personal name of the Creator was not transliterated in the Bible.  The true significance of the name is found in its meaning because the definition of the name reveals Who Yahuwah is.

The definition of Yahuwah is difficult to translate into English.  The word has much more meaning than can be summed up in a single English word.  The phrase generally used to translate the meaning of Yahuwah is Ayah Asher Ayah.  The most common translation of this descriptive phrase is I AM THAT I AM although other sources also translate it as:

   I WILL BE WHAT I WILL TO BE
   I AM WHAT I AM
   I AM WHO I AM

The name of the Almighty Creator, unlike all other names, is not a noun but a verb of being.  No parents name their baby boy Is, or their little girl Was!  For Yahuwah to choose a verb of being for His personal name communicates an important message: He is the only One Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is to come.  He is self-existent, meaning He did not get life from some other source.  He is Himself the source of all life, including His own.  He is ever-present, all-knowing and all-powerful.  The only way to express the qualities of infinity is to use a verb of being and call Himself "AM."  He could just as easily have called Himself Is, or Was, or Shall Be.  All verbs of being are correct and true when applied to the source of all life.  "AM" shows the continual nearness of His immediate presence.

To human ears, this sounds awkward.  "Am" is a word that is commonly used in every day speech.  However, I AM THAT I AM/I WILL BE WHAT I WILL TO BE is as close as human language can come to express the all-encompassing, infinite nature of the Almighty Creator, Yahuwah.  Invoking the name He has given Himself in prayer directs that prayer to the all-powerful Creator: the Elohim above all false elohim.

The significance and the vast power of the divine name is revealed in the story of Moses' commission to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  The story, as told in Exodus 3, states that the Creator identified Himself to Moses at the burning bush as "the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob."  (See Exodus 3:6.)

Moses had spent many years in the court of Egypt.  He understood the significance which the Egyptians and, through Egyptian influence, the Israelites placed upon the name of a god.  It is in this context that Moses asked an intriguing question.  He said, "When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The Elohim of your fathers has sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, 'What is his name?'  what shall I say unto them?"  (See Exodus 3:13.)

What a question!  Most scholars are of the opinion that Moses wrote the book of Genesis during the 40 years he spent in Midian.  Both "Elohim" and "Yahuwah" are used in Genesis.  And yet, here Moses is asking, "What is your name?"

As translated into English by the King James Version of the Bible, the answer given Moses was:

"I AM THAT I AM.  Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

"And . . . [He] said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, . . . [Yahuwah] hath sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."  Exodus 3:15, KJV

Before repeating the name that Moses already knew, Yahuwah explained His name by using the same verb of being in a different form - a form that revealed the power within His name!  The phrase translated as I AM THAT I AM comes from the Hebrew word: Hâyâh.  It means to be.  When Moses asked, "Who shall I say sent me?" the answer was BE!  BE!

Hâyâh is a very powerful word.  "The use of Hâyâh in such passages declares the actual release of power, so that the accomplishment is assured."  (#410, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words.)

This is the answer the Almighty gave when a weak mortal, Moses, asked "What is Your name?"  The answer, BE! contained the power that brought the universe into existence!  Scripture clearly states that the very words of Yahuwah, breathed by His Holy Breath (Spirit) contain the power to do what He commands.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith . . . [Yahuwah].  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

beautiful flowers For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it [My word] shall not return unto Me void, but it [My word] shall accomplish that which I please, and it [My word] shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:8-11, KJV)

Words express thoughts.  This is the very essence of communication.  Words also contain power, as they exert influence upon another's emotions, beliefs or behaviors.  However, only the omnipotent Creator has words that contain power within themselves!

If I am in a dark room, I can say, "Light, BE!" all I want and the room will stay dark.  In order to get light, I have to turn on the light switch.  Not so with the Creator!  All He has to do is to say the word and what was not, now is.

The divine name, Yahuwah, is the assurance of infinite power.  Thus Yahuwah encouraged Moses to undertake what, to all rights, should have been a suicide mission.  When the actual word is inserted into the passage, when Moses asked "What's Your name?" Yahuwah replied:

"BE!  BE!  Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, BE! has sent me unto you."  And Elohim further said to Moses, "Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, Yahuwah, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.  (See Exodus 3:14, 15.)

The promise of power contained within the divine name "became reality through Moses, to whom . . . [Elohim] explained that He was not only the '. . . [Elohim] who exists' but the '. . . [Elohim] who effects His will."  (#3068, Yahuwah, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary.")

The promise of power in the divine name is still there for all who, through faith in the merits of the blood of the Saviour, will only claim it.  Yahuwah is the Elohim Who Was and Who Is and Who Is to come.  He assures everyone, "I AM Yahuwah, I change not!"  (See Malachi 3:6.)  The Creator, Himself the source of all life, has given Himself a name that is an assurance that He will be everything His people need.

Yahuwah, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting,
Thou art Elohim.
(See Psalm 90:1, 2.)

In addition to having a name that assures us of His power, the very words which Yahuwah speaks contain unlimited power.

By the word of Yahuwah were the heavens made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

(See Psalm 33:6.)

The word of Yahuwah contains infinite power.  His very breath itself holds all the power that called the universe into existence!  Scripture opens a view of the primordial past, at the point Yahuwah came to earth to form it and create life upon it.

In the beginning . . . [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the spirit of . . . [Elohim] moved upon the face of the waters.  (Genesis 1:1, 2, KJV)

The word "spirit" comes from the Hebrew word, rûwach (#7307), and means, literally, breath.  This is the same breath that transformed Adam from a big mud pie into a living, breathing soul, made in the image of his Maker.  "And . . . [Yahuwah Elohim] formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."  (Genesis 2:7, KJV)

The word hâyâh, or BE!, from which comes the divine name, Yahuwah, was spoken throughout the Creation of the world.  While the English renders the divine command, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), the Hebrew is much more direct:

Light . . . BE!  (The release of creative power to do the thing commanded.)

Light was.  (The statement of fact after the act has been performed.)

Both "be" and "was" are state of being verbs.  In the Hebrew, the same word, hâyâh, is used to express both the command and the fulfillment of the command:

Light . . . HÂYÂH!

Light hâyâh.

view of earth from space The use of this powerful word, the root of Yahuwah's own divine name, continues throughout the account of Creation.

Gathered waters . . . HÂYÂH!  (BE!)

Gathered waters . . . hâyâh (were).

Dry ground . . . HÂYÂH!  (BE!)

Dry ground hâyâh (was).

Lights in the heavens . . . HÂYÂH!  (BE!)

Lights in the heavens hâyâh (were).

And evening hâyâh (be) and morning hâyâh (be).

The indescribable beauty contained in the name of the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present eternal Father is that it contains unlimited, omnipotent power.  It was for this reason that Yahuwah chose to call Himself the name that He did.  Indeed, it is the only word that could be His name.

There is purpose in everything the Father does and the purpose He had in calling Himself Yahuwah was to inspire faith in the hearts of His children.  Faith is a word that is often heard in religious circles.  We sing "Trust and obey!" and we encourage each other to "just have faith."  But what is faith?  What does the word mean?  Scripture states that "without faith it is impossible to please" Yahuwah.  (Hebrews 11:6)  So what is this word that is spoken so often, but rarely, if ever, defined?

The dictionary defines faith as:

Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity [truthfulness], without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth.  . . . The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another.4

Faith is not some mysterious something which some people are born with and others are not!  In fact, true faith is a gift.  Scripture states that Yahuwah "has dealt to each one a measure of faith."  (Romans 12:3,  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is the gift of . . . [Yahuwah]."  (Ephesians 2:8, KJV)  While it is likely in the latter verse that Paul was referring specifically to the fact that salvation is not of yourselves, it is a gift of Yahuwah, the point is similar.  The ability to trust in Yahuwah for salvation is itself a divine gift.

The Saviour provided a working example of faith.

Now when . . . [the Saviour] had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ". . . [Master], my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And . . . [the Saviour] said to him, "I will come and heal him."

Yahushua and Roman guard The centurion answered and said, ". . . [Master], I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When . . . [the Saviour] heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Then . . . [He] said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."  And his servant was healed that same hour."  (Matthew 8:5-13, NKJV)

The centurion was worried about his servant.  He came to the Saviour and asked Him to heal his servant.  When the Saviour replied, "I will come and heal him," something in the centurion's answer led the Messiah to marvel and exclaim, "That is faith - faith the likes of which I have not found even in Israel!"

What was it that the Son of Yahuwah identified as faith?

When the centurion heard, "I will come and heal him," his immediate response was, "I am not worthy for you to come to my home.  Just speak the word and he will be healed."  He then explained that he recognized the authority with which the Son of Yahuwah spoke when he added, "I myself am a soldier under authority which I obey and I have soldiers under my authority who obey me.  I tell one to do something and he does it!  You do not need to come and heal my servant.  You have the authority to just speak the word and he will be well."  

"THAT is faith," the Saviour marveled.

Faith is simply taking Yahuwah at His word.  It is the agreement of the mind that what He has said is true because of who He is, without any other evidence.  Faith is the acceptance of the mind that what Yahuwah has promised, He will do because of the power He has at His command, without needing to see or feel any proof that He will keep His promise.

smiling boy A child who has been raised in a safe environment where Mama always meets his needs, has complete and utter faith that his mother will give him a drink of water when he asks for one.  When Mother says something, he believes what she says because past actions have proven that she is trustworthy.  He trusts her because of who she is: she is his mother.  She has the power and the authority to give him what he needs, and her past actions have proven that she will always help when he asks for help.

As children of the heavenly Father, we are to have complete and utter faith in Him.  Children have more faith in the word of their earthly parents than adults do in the word of their heavenly Father.  This was the point the Messiah was making when He said, "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 18:3

A child who is struggling to carry a burden too heavy for her, asks her father for help in perfect confidence that he, in his superior strength, will help her lift and carry it.  The trials and difficulties of daily life are meant to lead us to call upon our heavenly Father for help and trust in Him to keep His promises.

It is these very difficulties that bring us to the audience chamber of the Most High, to seek counsel of the One who is infinite in wisdom.  He loves to have us seek Him; He loves to have us trust Him and believe His word.  If we had no perplexities, no trials, we would become self-sufficient and lifted up in ourselves.  The true saints will be purified, and made white and tried.5

George Mueller, a true faith warrior, once said, "Faith is the assurance that the things which . . . [Yahuwah] said in His word are true; and that . . . [He] will act according to what He has said in His Word.  This assurance, this reliance on . . . [Yahuwah's] Word, this confidence, is Faith."

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of . . . [Yahuwah]."  (Romans 10:17)  It was to inspire faith (and trust) in His children, that Yahuwah gave His name.  His name itself is a promise that He will BE everything you need in order to be saved.  When His name is combined with a need, it becomes a promise that your need will be fulfilled.

Are you sick?  His promise to you is: I AM your Healer.  BE well!  (Exodus 15:26)

Are you afraid?  I AM your Refuge.  BE safe!  (Psalm 9:9)

Are you weak?  I AM your Strength.  BE strong!  (Psalm 27:1)

Are you overwhelmed with difficulties?  I AM a Man of War.  BE delivered!  (Exodus 15:3)

Are you in danger?  I AM your Shield.  BE protected!  (Psalm 3:3)

Are you alone?  I AM your Kinsman/Redeemer.  Be cherished!  (Isaiah 43:14)

Have you been taken advantage of and left in need?  I AM your Provider Who Sees.  BE provided for!  (Genesis 22:14)

Do you feel alone?  I AM Desirous of Your Love.  BE loved!  (Exodus 34:14)

For anything and everything He has promised, those who live in humble obedience may ask for and gratefully claim.  Scripture contains 360 composite names - names in which the divine name, combined with a need, becomes a promise.

Call upon the name of Yahuwah!  Claim the divine promises!  He is waiting with a longing heart to help you.  When you combine the name of Yahuwah with your need, and you let your faith grasp the promise, He will keep His Word.  He will BE all that you need Him to be.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of . . . [Yahuwah] . . . as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, . . . by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  (2 Peter 1:2-4

Wait patiently for . . . [Yahuwah].  He will be to you a present help in every time of need.  . . . [Yahwuah] is good.  Praise His Holy name.  . . . [Elohim] loves to have us trust Him, loves to have us have confidence in His promises.  Only believe, and we shall see the workings of . . . [the Almighty].6

Yahuwah, the great and almighty I AM will BE all that you could ever need Him to be under any and every circumstance.  Trust all to Him as unto a loving Heavenly Father.  He will never fail you nor forsake.  He is safe to trust!  Call upon Him today and rest in His love.

“When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly.”
Patrick Overton

Following is a partial list of composite names Yahuwah has provided in Scripture to encourage hearts and inspire trust.

HahYah - BE! (Exodus 3:14)

Yah - I AM

Yahuwah - I AM THAT I AM (Genesis 2:4; Exodus 20:7)

Yah Amen - I AM the Truth (Deuteronomy 7:7-9)

Yah Bore - I AM [the] Creator (Isaiah 40:28)

Yahuwah Elohei Hashamaim Welohei Haarets - I AM the Mighty One of the Heavens and the Mighty One of the Earth ( Genesis 24:3)

Yah Elohei Yeshu'ati - I AM, Mighty One of My Salvation (Psalm 88:2)

Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Mighty One (Deuteronomy 8:7)

Yah Elohei ColBaser - I AM [the] Mighty One of All Flesh (Jeremiah 32:27)

Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Mighty One (Deuteronomy 16:1)

Yah Elohi Israel - I AM the Mighty One of Israel (Judges 6:8)

Yah Elyon - I AM Most High (Psalm 47:2; 97:9)

Yah Goelkem - I AM Your Kinsman-Redeemer (Isaiah 43:14)

Yah Hama'leh - I AM Who Brings Out (Leviticus 11:45)

Yah Hamastir Panaio - I AM [He] Who Hides His Face (Isaiah 8:17)

Yah Hizqei - I AM [your] Strength (Psalm 18:1)

Yah 'Hosenu - I AM [your] Maker (Psalm 95:6)

Yah Ish'i - I AM [your] Light and Salvation (Psalm 27:1)

Yah Ish Malchamah - I Am a Man of War (Exodus 15:3)

Yah Jireh - I AM your Provider Who Sees (Genesis 22:14)

Yah Lemish'ka - I AM Your Support (Psalm 18:18)

Yah Magen - I AM Your Shield (Psalm 3:3)

Yah Makkeh - I AM Who Smites (Ezekiel 7:9)

Yah Ma'on - I AM [your] Strength (Psalm 27:1)

Yah Machosehu - I AM his Refuge (Psalm 14:6)

Yah Minat - I AM [your] Portion (Psalm 16:5)

Yah Melek - I AM [your] King (Psalm 10:16)

Yah Migdal - I AM [your] High Tower (Proverbs 18:10, Micah 4:8)

Yah Mishgab - I AM [your] Refuge (Psalm 9:9)

Yah Nissi - I AM [your] Banner (Exodus 17:15)

Yah Ohev Mishpat - I AM a Lover of Justice (Isaiah 61:8)

Yah Ori - I AM [your] Light (Psalm 27:1)

Yah Qana - I AM Desirous of Your Love (Exodus 34:14)

Yah Quadosh - I AM Holy (Leviticus 20:26)

Yah M'Qadeshkem - I AM your Sanctifier (Exodus 31:13)

Ya Roi - I AM [your] Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

Yah Ropheka - I AM your Healer (Exodus 15:26)

Yah Sal'i/Sil'i - I AM your Rock (Psalm 18:3)

Yah Shalom - I AM your Peace (Judges 6:24)

Yah Shoken - I AM He Who Dwells With You (Numbers 35:34)

Yah Shammah - I AM There (Ezekiel 48:35)

Yah Shemesh weMagan - I AM a Sun and Shield (Psalm 84:11)

Yah Shibreka - I AM Your Keeper (Psalm 121:5)

Yah Tsabaoth - I AM the Mighty One, the Master of the Faithfully Serving Sun, Moon and Stars (1 Samuel 1:3; Amos 5:16)

Yah Tzilka - I AM [your] Shade (Psalm 121:5)

Yah Tzuri - I AM is my Rock (Psalm 28:1)

Yah Tzidkenu - I AM is Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16)

Yah 'Uzi - I AM [your] Strength and Shield (Psalm 28:7)

Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Covenant Keeping Mighty One (Deuteronomy 16:1)

Yah Shemo - I AM is My Name (Psalm 68:14)

Adon - Master, Ruler of the Earth (Psalm 12:5)

Adonai - Master, Husband, Ruler (Exodus 5:22)

Adonai - My Master [Blesser of the Earth] (Genesis 20:4)

Adonim - Master [Owner of the Earth] (Judges 6:15; 13:3)

Adonai Elohei - My Master, My Mighty One (Psalm 38:16; 86:12)

Adonai Tishu'ati - My Master, My Salvation (Psalm 38:22)

Adonai Yahuwah - My Master Yahuwah (Genesis 15:2,8)

Elohei Amen, El Amen - Mighty One of Truth (Isaiah 65:16)

Elohei Chasdi - Mighty One of my Mercy (Psalm 59:18)

Elohei Emeth - Mighty One of Truth  (2 Chronicles 15:3)

Elohei HaMispat - Mighty One of the Judgment (Malachi 2:17)

Elohei Hesedi - Mighty One of My Mercy (Psalm 59:10, 17)

Elohei HaShamaim - Mighty One of the Heavens (Genesis 24:3, 7)

Elohei Israel - Mighty One of Israel (Exodus 24:10)

Eli Malki - My Mighty One, My King (Psalm 68:24)

Elohei Marom - The Exalted Mighty One (Micah 6:6)

Elohei Ma'zi - Mighty One My Stronghold (Psalm 43:2)

Elohei Me'onah - Mighty One Your Refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Elohei Merachoq - Mighty One Far Away (Jeremiah 23:23)

Elohim Mibal'adi - Mighty One Beside Me (Isaiah 45:21)

Elohei Mikarov - Mighty One Near at Hand (Jeremiah 23:23)

Elohei Mishaphat - Mighty One of Justice (Isaiah 30:18)

Elohim Moshi'a - Mighty Covenant Keepers My Saviour (Psalm 7:10)

El Nu'aratz - Mighty One to be Feared (Psalm 89:7)

Elohei Qedem - Mighty One [of] Dawn (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Elohei Tehilati - Mighty One of My Praise (Psalm 109:1)

Elohei Tzuri - Mighty One My Rock (2 Samuel 22:3)

Elohei Yacob - Mighty One of Jacob ( Psalm 46:12)

Elohei Yish'i - Mighty One of My Salvation (Psalm 18:47)

Elohei Zidqi - Mighty One My Righteousness (Psalm 4:1)

Eloah - Supreme Mighty One [Who Wills] (Deuteronomy 32:15, 17)

El - Mighty One (Isaiah 44:10, 15)

Eli - My Mighty One (Psalm 18:3; 22:1, 2, 11)

El Amunah - Mighty One of Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4)

HaEl Yahuwah - The Mighty One Who is Yahuwah (Isaiah 42:5; Psalm 85:9)

El Chai - Living Mighty One (Joshua 3:10)

El Deot Yahuwah - All-Knowing Yahuwah (1 Samuel 2:3)

El Echad - Mighty One [is] One (Malachi 2:10)

El Elyon - Mighty One Everlasting (Genesis14:18-22)

El Emeth - Mighty One of Truth (2 Chronicles 15:3)

El Emunah - Mighty One of Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:4)

El Gamuloth Y' - Yahuwah Mighty One of Recompenses (Jeremiah 51:56)

El Hakevod - Mighty One of the Glory (Psalm 29:3)

HaEl HaGadol - The Great Mighty One (Deuteronomy 10:17)

El Gibbor - Mighty One [the] Champion (Isaiah 9:5)

El Hakevod - Mighty One of Glory (Psalm 29:3)

HaEl Ma'uni - The Mighty One My Fortress (2 Samuel 22:33)

El Mistater - Mighty One [Who] Hides Himself (Isaiah 45:15)

El Nose - Mighty One [Who] Forgives (Psalm 99:9)

El Olam - Everlasting Mighty One (Genesis 21:33)

HaEl HaQadosh - The Holy Mighty One (Isaiah 5:16)

El Quana - The Mighty One Desirous of Love (Exodus 20:5)

El Rachim - The Compassionate Mighty One (Exodus 34:6)

El Ra'i - The Vigilant Mighty One (Genesis 16:13)

El Sal'i - Mighty One, My Rock (Psalm 18:3)

El Shaddai - The ALMIGHTY Mighty One (Genesis 17:1)

Eli Tzuri - My Mighty One, My Rock (Psalm 18:3)

El Tzadiq - Mighty One of Righteousness (Isaiah 45:21)

El Yeshuati - My Almighty Saviour (Isaiah 12:2)

Elohei Zidki - Mighty One My Righteousness (Psalm 4:2)