When a person meets someone special, he wants to get to know that someone and may benefit from advice about how to make it happen.
This is evident in a familiar Old Testament refrain God adds to many of the explanations He offers for His actions—so "they will know that I am the LORD." Such knowledge is good news to some and bad news to others. In fact, it is particularly interesting that the first reference in scripture to knowing God is negative, and one that perhaps sets the stage for much of what follows. We will trace this theme through the book of Exodus and we will consider four steps by which people come to know God. Please open your Bibles and follow along as we make the journey.
The book of Genesis records that because of a famine in Canaan, Jacob and his family moved south to Egypt, where they stayed more than 400 years.1 There they grew in number, prospered, and became an integral part of the Egyptian economy. The Israelites apparently did not assimilate, though, but remained a separate community, which fueled speculation within the Egyptian bureaucracy that they might someday pose a threat.
When a new Pharaoh comes to power, unsympathetic to Israel, his administration decides to take preemptive measures.
Before He begins Pharaoh's theological education, though, we encounter another reference to knowing God.4 He comes to Moses in chapter 6 and explains the divine plan.
I. Knowing God requires an experience of Him.
This is where the process often begins, with an experience of God. Of course, not all experience with God is pleasant, as Pharaoh would doubtless attest. It is, in fact, decidedly unpleasant for those who oppose Him.8
At this point, Israel recognizes the pattern even if Pharaoh will not, and the LORD reiterates the positive nature of this event for His people (including for those of succeeding generations). In Exod 10:2, before the ninth plague (locusts), God says to Moses, "I'm doing all this...
God is not finished with the Israelites, though. A few days later, when the food they brought with them runs out, the Israelites complain to Moses, some even wishing they had remained in Egypt. To this God replies in....
This passage raises the question that all who claim to be God's people must ask themselves at some point: How well do you know the LORD? Surely better than Pharaoh, or you would not be here; but
Knowing God requires an experience with God, and through the experiences in these passages God brings both the Egyptians and the Israelites to know Him in some way...but in what way? The word "LORD" (all caps), in this phrase He keeps repeating, is not a title, like God or Almighty; it is His name. So when He says, "know that I am the LORD," it is like my saying, "know that I am Paul." at least grammatically. In biblical usage, however, to know someone's name is to know the character of that person. In other words, from this exodus experience, God wants the Egyptians and the Israelites to associate certain qualities with the LORD. Now when they think of His name, it should bring forth images of His power and sovereignty.17 That is also how He wants you to know Him, not only through the stories you heard about Him but also in the experiences you can have with Him. So, what is the source of your understanding of God? Remember, one reason experiences with God are important is that they form an important part of your testimony for God, what you pass along to others.
To this point in the book, the details of what the Egyptians and the Israelites learn about God is essentially the same. Because they have both witnessed and encountered His mighty acts, they now associate power and sovereignty with His name, the LORD (all caps). For the Egyptians, though, this is all they know about Him.18
You are probably aware of people who think the same way. They believe in the existence of a supreme deity, but beyond that they know nothing about Him.19 They have not progressed to the second step....
II. Knowing God requires a relationship with Him.
...and He demonstrates that relationship in several ways. Follow in your Bible as I list the characteristics of knowing Him. First...
For the Israelites, knowing the LORD is personal.20 It entails a relationship with Him that others do not have, and this relationship gives them greater access to information about Him.21
How well do you know the LORD? He is surely more to you than a supreme deity. Like the Israelites, you have a relationship with Him and, like the Israelites, your relationship with God gives you access to information about Him. How can you take advantage of it? ...You must take the third step....
III. Knowing God requires an obedience to Him.
Having a relationship with God entails assuming responsibility to God. His people are not His partners; they are His servants, and servants obey the one they serve. What is unique about the obedience God requires—and this is a point we do not always realize—is that obedience benefits His people. His commands are good for them; and, because we are part of His people, His commands are also good for us. They show us how to get the most out of life. One benefit of God's commands we sometimes miss is that they can teach us about Him. In other words, obeying God enables us to know God better.22 That is the point of this lesson and the purpose of life itself, Knowing God.
When God gives the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He uses the Sabbath command to indicate a connection between obedience and knowledge.
How well do you know the LORD? You have had an experience with God and have discovered something about Him. You have established a relationship with God and have gotten to know Him better. You are now obeying God, but are you learning from it? You may not normally think of obedience as being educational; it is just something one has to do. Where God is concerned, however, obedience can teach you something about Him. Look again at Exod 31:13 and notice how obedience to the Sabbath is instructive about God. First...
There is one more passage in Exodus that, while it does not use the phrase "know that I am the LORD," does clearly increase Israel's knowledge, because God Himself gives a fuller explanation of the divine character that lies behind His name, the LORD.
As we have seen, knowing God, having a relationship with Him, entails a series of steps.
No matter how much we might learn about God in other ways, there would always be significant gaps in our understanding if He were to remain hidden. Thankfully, He chooses to reveal Himself to us, and...
After Israel's sin with the golden calf, Moses returns to Mt. Sinai to plead with God for the people's pardon. Moses knows about God's power and sovereignty. He also knows about God's intolerance for idolatry. Will God now destroy this people, or does His character include mercy as well? Look at...
How well do you know the LORD? Those who took part in the exodus did not have much in the way of revelation. You, on the other hand, have the advantage of an extensive body of revelation, written and preserved, that can increase your knowledge of God considerably. I will not ask if you read it regularly. I will ask, though, if you read it with knowing God as your primary objective. Is that your main motivation, or is it more often to receive some word for your immediate situation, to find something relevant at the moment? Reading scripture should, of course, give you hope and encouragement as you face the difficulties of life, but the greatest hope, the greatest encouragement comes from an expanded view of God, from knowing Him and what He is about better than you did before. That should be your primary purpose when you look at what He has revealed.26
So, how important to you is Knowing God? ...Paul says that knowing God is the most comprehensive goal you can pursue, because it has value "for both the present life and the life to come" (cf. 1 Tim 4:8).
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
A young man called his mother and announced excitedly that he had just met the girl of his dreams. "Now what should I do?" he asked. His mother said, "Why don't you send her flowers, and on the card invite her to your apartment for a home-cooked meal?" He thought this was a great strategy and, a week later, the girl came to dinner. His mother called the next day to see how things had gone. "The evening was a disaster," he moaned. "Why, didn't she come over?" his mother asked. "Oh, she came over...but she refused to cook."When a person meets someone special, he wants to get to know that someone and may benefit from advice about how to make it happen. That applies when a guy meets a girl, or when a person meets God. While getting to know a girl would probably benefit by getting advice from the girl herself, getting to know the Lord would certainly benefit by getting advice from the Lord himself.
This is evident in a familiar Old Testament refrain God adds to many of the explanations He offers for His actions—so "they will know that I am the LORD." Such knowledge is good news to some and bad news to others. In fact, it is particularly interesting that the first reference in scripture to knowing God is negative, and one that perhaps sets the stage for much of what follows. We will trace this theme through the book of Exodus and we will consider four steps by which people come to know God. Please open your Bibles and follow along as we make the journey.
The book of Genesis records that because of a famine in Canaan, Jacob and his family moved south to Egypt, where they stayed more than 400 years.1 There they grew in number, prospered, and became an integral part of the Egyptian economy. The Israelites apparently did not assimilate, though, but remained a separate community, which fueled speculation within the Egyptian bureaucracy that they might someday pose a threat.
When a new Pharaoh comes to power, unsympathetic to Israel, his administration decides to take preemptive measures.
Exod 1:11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.... 14 They made their lives bitter...in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.This situation does not sit well with God, and He sends Moses to Pharaoh with the order to free Israel. The first reference in scripture to knowing God is Pharaoh's fateful response in...2
Exod 5:2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."This strikes me as a divine set-up, because from this point on, God seems to use that statement by Pharaoh as the rationale for much of what He does in Exodus—so that the Egyptians may know the LORD.3
Before He begins Pharaoh's theological education, though, we encounter another reference to knowing God.4 He comes to Moses in chapter 6 and explains the divine plan.
Exod 6:7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.The Israelites have stories about God the patriarchs handed down,5 but there are probably few of them who know God very well;6 so He tells Moses that what they are about to experience is as much for their theological education as it is for their captors' instruction.7 This is the first step....
I. Knowing God requires an experience of Him.
This is where the process often begins, with an experience of God. Of course, not all experience with God is pleasant, as Pharaoh would doubtless attest. It is, in fact, decidedly unpleasant for those who oppose Him.8
A. It can be negative (Exod 7:5, 17; 8:10) or positive (Exod 10:2).Several times throughout the story, God reiterates that what He is doing is in answer to Pharaoh's excuse not to free Israel because he does not know the LORD. In Exod 7:5, when Moses and Aaron are about to confront Pharaoh's magicians, God says,
[E] Exod 7:5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it."Before the first plague (blood), Moses says to Pharaoh in Exod 7:17,
[E] Exod 7:17 This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.During the second plague (frogs), Pharaoh claims to have a change of heart, so Moses asks what day he would like the plague to be rescinded.9
[E] Exod 8:10 "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.Far from changing his heart toward God, though, Pharaoh hardens his heart against God,10 who sends more plagues: gnats, flies, blight (livestock disease), boils, and hail.
At this point, Israel recognizes the pattern even if Pharaoh will not, and the LORD reiterates the positive nature of this event for His people (including for those of succeeding generations). In Exod 10:2, before the ninth plague (locusts), God says to Moses, "I'm doing all this...
[I] Exod 10:2 that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."By this time, the Egyptian ruler has indicated such a frequent and consistent refusal to obey God's command that it is evident he will not repent.11 Experience does not always have the same effect...
B. It can be fatal (Exod 14:4,18) or vital (Exod 16:12).The death of the firstborn in Egypt finally puts enough pressure on Pharaoh to let Israel go, "for there was not a house without someone dead" (Exod 12:30). Nevertheless, this is not repentance on Pharaoh's part; he will soon change his mind again (Exod 14:5).12 Sure enough, as Moses leads the people out of Egypt, Pharaoh leads Egyptian forces after the Israelites, trapping them at the shore of the Red Sea. Then, in v. 18, God says to Moses,
[E] Exod 14:18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."You know the story. God parts the Red Sea, enabling the Israelites to cross, and then closes it over the pursuing Egyptian army, effectively concluding Pharaoh's education.13
God is not finished with the Israelites, though. A few days later, when the food they brought with them runs out, the Israelites complain to Moses, some even wishing they had remained in Egypt. To this God replies in....
[I] Exod 16:12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"God provides vital support for His people. He brings in quail for them to eat, and He gives them manna every day thereafter (except on the Sabbath) for the next forty years, the entire time the Israelites are in the wilderness.14
This passage raises the question that all who claim to be God's people must ask themselves at some point: How well do you know the LORD? Surely better than Pharaoh, or you would not be here; but
- Do you know God only through stories about Him?
Rom 15:4 ...everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through...the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.But is your knowledge of God limited to what you have received in Sabbath School and sermons, or is it deeper than that?
- Do you know God also through experiences with Him?
Eph 3:17b I pray that you... 18 may...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19a and...know this love that surpasses knowledge....That may not sound as spectacular as what Egypt and Israel went through, but if God has made contact with you, the experience brings with it a recognition that He is real, and you know God in a way that you did not before.
Knowing God requires an experience with God, and through the experiences in these passages God brings both the Egyptians and the Israelites to know Him in some way...but in what way? The word "LORD" (all caps), in this phrase He keeps repeating, is not a title, like God or Almighty; it is His name. So when He says, "know that I am the LORD," it is like my saying, "know that I am Paul." at least grammatically. In biblical usage, however, to know someone's name is to know the character of that person. In other words, from this exodus experience, God wants the Egyptians and the Israelites to associate certain qualities with the LORD. Now when they think of His name, it should bring forth images of His power and sovereignty.17 That is also how He wants you to know Him, not only through the stories you heard about Him but also in the experiences you can have with Him. So, what is the source of your understanding of God? Remember, one reason experiences with God are important is that they form an important part of your testimony for God, what you pass along to others.
To this point in the book, the details of what the Egyptians and the Israelites learn about God is essentially the same. Because they have both witnessed and encountered His mighty acts, they now associate power and sovereignty with His name, the LORD (all caps). For the Egyptians, though, this is all they know about Him.18
You are probably aware of people who think the same way. They believe in the existence of a supreme deity, but beyond that they know nothing about Him.19 They have not progressed to the second step....
II. Knowing God requires a relationship with Him.
...and He demonstrates that relationship in several ways. Follow in your Bible as I list the characteristics of knowing Him. First...
A. It is evident in His deliverance (Exod 6:7b).For the Israelites, knowing God is more than just recognizing His power and sovereignty. It is also realizing that the LORD has an interest in their welfare and is acting on their behalf. They are to know Him as "their God." He said as much in Egypt before the exodus.
Exod 6:7b [I will save you.] Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.A relationship with God is evident in His deliverance of His people. Second...
B. It is evident in His provision (Exod 16:12c).He said as much in the wilderness soon after the exodus.
Exod 16:12c [I will sustain you.] Then you will know that I am the LORD your God."A relationship with God is evident in His provision for His people. Third...
C. It is evident in His presence (Exod 29:46).Before the consecration of the tabernacle, the place God would be manifest. He says as much.
Exod 29:46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.A relationship with God is evident in His presence with His people.
For the Israelites, knowing the LORD is personal.20 It entails a relationship with Him that others do not have, and this relationship gives them greater access to information about Him.21
How well do you know the LORD? He is surely more to you than a supreme deity. Like the Israelites, you have a relationship with Him and, like the Israelites, your relationship with God gives you access to information about Him. How can you take advantage of it? ...You must take the third step....
III. Knowing God requires an obedience to Him.
Having a relationship with God entails assuming responsibility to God. His people are not His partners; they are His servants, and servants obey the one they serve. What is unique about the obedience God requires—and this is a point we do not always realize—is that obedience benefits His people. His commands are good for them; and, because we are part of His people, His commands are also good for us. They show us how to get the most out of life. One benefit of God's commands we sometimes miss is that they can teach us about Him. In other words, obeying God enables us to know God better.22 That is the point of this lesson and the purpose of life itself, Knowing God.
When God gives the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He uses the Sabbath command to indicate a connection between obedience and knowledge.
Exod 31:13 "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.By keeping the Sabbath, by making that day holy, the people will discover something about God, because, like His actions, His commands reflect His character.23
How well do you know the LORD? You have had an experience with God and have discovered something about Him. You have established a relationship with God and have gotten to know Him better. You are now obeying God, but are you learning from it? You may not normally think of obedience as being educational; it is just something one has to do. Where God is concerned, however, obedience can teach you something about Him. Look again at Exod 31:13 and notice how obedience to the Sabbath is instructive about God. First...
A. It teaches about what He expects (31:13a)."You must observe my Sabbaths." Obedience teaches us His will for our lives; more precisely, obedience is His will for our lives. Believers, especially young believers, often go on a quest to find God's will, as if it is a secret He keeps hidden from all but the most diligent. They think that if they fail to uncover it, they will have missed God's best for them. Let me assure you: God does not operate like that. What He expects from His people are the commands that He has put plainly in front of them.24 If God has something special He wants you to accomplish, obeying what you already know He expects is the best way to insure that you will not miss any additional assignments, that you will be in the right place at the right time. Obedience teaches about what the LORD expects. Second...
B. It teaches about who He is (Exod 31:13b).The reason God offers for this command, as with many others, is so you may "know that I am the LORD." As I mentioned before, there is a connection between God's character and God's commands, and biblical writers use many of the same adjectives to describe both (e.g., just, true, righteous, holy). By obeying His commands—His just, true, righteous, and holy commands—we conform ourselves to His character—His just, true, righteous, and holy character. We become like Him and, in this way, we get to know Him. Obedience teaches about who God is. Third...
C. It teaches about what He does (Exod 31:13b).The divine purpose in this verse is in the phrase, "who makes you holy." Obeying God is not a theoretical exercise, nor is it a means of entertainment for Him. God has designed obedience to accomplish something specific, to remake us in His image and to set us apart as His people in the kingdom He is building. It also puts us on course with His plan, with what He is accomplishing in history. In this way obedience teaches about what God does.
There is one more passage in Exodus that, while it does not use the phrase "know that I am the LORD," does clearly increase Israel's knowledge, because God Himself gives a fuller explanation of the divine character that lies behind His name, the LORD.
As we have seen, knowing God, having a relationship with Him, entails a series of steps.
- The first step to knowing God requires an experience of Him.
- The second step to knowing God requires a relationship with Him.
- The third step to knowing God requires an dedication to Him.
- The fourth step to...
No matter how much we might learn about God in other ways, there would always be significant gaps in our understanding if He were to remain hidden. Thankfully, He chooses to reveal Himself to us, and...
- It clarifies His character (Exod 34:5-7).
After Israel's sin with the golden calf, Moses returns to Mt. Sinai to plead with God for the people's pardon. Moses knows about God's power and sovereignty. He also knows about God's intolerance for idolatry. Will God now destroy this people, or does His character include mercy as well? Look at...
Exod 34:5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."God reveals to Moses directly and clearly some important aspects of His character, and these attributes become an integral part of Israel's knowledge of God and a recurrent theme in scripture.25
How well do you know the LORD? Those who took part in the exodus did not have much in the way of revelation. You, on the other hand, have the advantage of an extensive body of revelation, written and preserved, that can increase your knowledge of God considerably. I will not ask if you read it regularly. I will ask, though, if you read it with knowing God as your primary objective. Is that your main motivation, or is it more often to receive some word for your immediate situation, to find something relevant at the moment? Reading scripture should, of course, give you hope and encouragement as you face the difficulties of life, but the greatest hope, the greatest encouragement comes from an expanded view of God, from knowing Him and what He is about better than you did before. That should be your primary purpose when you look at what He has revealed.26
So, how important to you is Knowing God? ...Paul says that knowing God is the most comprehensive goal you can pursue, because it has value "for both the present life and the life to come" (cf. 1 Tim 4:8).
- The writer of Proverbs (a book full of practical advice) states that knowing God has value for the present when he says in...
Prov 9:10b ...knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
If you want to cope with life, then you must understand what life is about, and knowing God can provide that, because it has value for the present.27
- Jesus states that knowing God has value for the future when he prays for his disciples in...28
John 17:3 [T]his is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God....
Knowing God is a taste of heaven. If you want a head start on eternity, then you must appreciate what will occupy, delight, and fulfill you forever, as you explore the vastness of God's character and enjoy the glory of His presence. In this way, knowing God has value for the future.If you have ever wondered why you are here on earth, this is it: God created you to know Him.[29] So, how are you doing? How well do you know the LORD? How important to you is knowing the LORD? ...Then, given what you know, do you recommend Him to others?
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs