The Book of the Names

The Book of Exodus is known in Hebrew as the book of Shemot, literally, the book of names, taken from the book's opening verse, "And these are the names (shemot) of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt; with Yaakov, each man and his household came." (Exodus 1:1) But the book of Shemot is not just the book of the names of the sons of Israel. It is also the book of the names of G-d , as made evident by the opening verses of this week's Torah reading, Va'era: " G-d spoke to Moses, and He said to him, "I am Hashem. I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov with [the name] Almighty G-d , but [with] My name Hashem, I did not become known to them." (ibid 6:2-3)
Now there is only one G-d , and one G-d only, but we know G-d by many names. For each name expresses a different understanding of how G-d manifests His presence in our lives and leads us in this world. When G-d introduces Himself to Moshe, employing different names, names that He never before made known, He is articulating a new relationship between Himself and the children of Israel.
Up until now, G-d had related to the patriarchs in the guise of Almighty G-d . That is, as our sages teach, the G-d of creation Who visits the righteous through the medium of His created world, and Whose Torah respects the boundaries of His created world.
But now G-d introduces Himself to Moshe, saying, "I am Hashem" and He does so to prepare Moshe for what is about to transpire. For, if up until now, G-d has played by His own rules, as it were, now, through His previously unrevealed name of Hashem, He is going to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and fulfill His promise to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov, with abounding, limitless love.
This endless love of Hashem for His people will overcome His own time-honored restrictions on nature, in the form of the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea, and the revelation at Sinai. This endless love of Hashem for His people will, (making use of another aspect of His will, as designated by yet another name of G-d , Elokim, who defines our reality through harshness or judgment), strike down Pharaoh and his nation. This endless love of Hashem for His people will guide the children of Israel into the land of Israel, and this endless love of Hashem for His people will shape history throughout the millennia, reaping havoc on those who would oppress Israel, and bless those who would bless Israel. This endless love of Hashem for His people is the Divine light that shines forth from Zion, the light of the Holy Temple, the light of the coming redemption.
And this brings us back to the first names mention in the book of Names - Shemot, the seventy names of Yaakov and his children. These seventy souls soon multiplied and became 600,000, and each and every one of these souls stood at Mount Sinai and there received Torah. And so it is that every soul that clings to the G-d of Israel today is a descendent of these same souls that stood at Sinai. From this we can gather two things: Our names and our souls are also mentioned in the book of Names (Exodus), and the different names of G-d that He revealed to Moshe, He reveals to each of us each and every day. It is incumbent upon us to see ourselves and discover our own names in the book of Exodus. And it is incumbent upon us to see G-d's wonders and discover His boundless love for us today.
Concerning the patriarchs, we are told: The deeds of the patriarchs are a sign to the children. That is, we are to see in the lives of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, lessons that we can apply to our lives today, and learn from. But concerning the children of Israel who are first introduced to us in the book of Exodus, this teaching is not applicable. And that is simply because we are the children of Israel, and the signs and wonders that G-d is preparing Moshe for, those miraculous manifestations of His love for Israel, these are the signs and wonders that today, and every day, are evidence of G-d's limitless love for us.

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS, WHERE DO WE FIIND IT'

by Charles Voss
Shalom Brethren,
You know we live in very trying times. Our cities are awash with violence and crime. Many people cannot find meaningful work. Children are dying of disease and starvation. There are wars in many lands. In Iraq, where "the war is over" soldiers are still dying every day and talk now is to increase the number of troops to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Surely, this is not the life that our CREATOR wants us to have!
Did you know that ETERNAL our SOVEREIGN CREATOR tells us of 'the road to happiness' that will lead us to tranquillity? Compare that with the life you lead today! In addition, did you know that each time ETERNAL sends a ‘Watchman’ to point out this road to happiness, that most people reject it saying, "We will not!" Notice, from the Tanakh:
Jeremiah 6:16-18 (Tanakh). Thus said ETERNAL: Stand by the roads and consider, inquire about ancient paths: Which is the road to happiness? Travel it and find tranquillity for yourselves. But they said, "We will not." And I raised Watchmen for you: "Hearken to the sound of the horn!" However, they said, "We will not."
...6:19-21. Hear well, O nations and know, O community what is in store for them. Hear O earth! I am going to bring disaster upon this people, the outcome of their own schemes; for they would not hearken to My words and they rejected My instruction. What need have I of frankincense that comes from Sheba or fragrant cane that comes from a distant land? * Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices** are not pleasing to Me. Assuredly, thus said ETERNAL; I shall put before this people stumbling blocks over which they shall stumble--fathers and children alike, neighbor and friend shall perish.
*These items are used in false worship services.
**There is one false sacrifice that nearly the whole world kowtows to.
What is the ancient path that ETERNAL calls on us to consider, look upon, and travel? It is the same path that the Patriarchs, our fathers, took. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses all took the ancient path of obedience to ETERNAL; that enabled them to find tranquility.^ Not that every day in their lives, was tranquil; but they lived in obedience and were blessed overwhelming by ETERNAL. If this is not your current life experience, you have not yet put your feet upon the ancient path that will lead you to happiness.
^If you check in your Scriptures, Genesis 26:5 you will see that Abraham was obedient to ETERNAL some 435 years before the Ten Commandments were finally written on stone.
ETERNAL explains that people and nations that reject the ancient path will experience disasters brought about by their own schemes and plans, which contradict the will of ETERNAL. This is a simple choice: do it ETERNAL’s way and find happiness and tranquillity, or choose some way of your own and experience disasters.
All around us we can see stumbling blocks that keep us off the ancient path, just as ETERNAL promised! Any other religion that keeps you off the ancient path of obedience only to ETERNAL is a stumbling block--it will cause you to perish.^^ Anything that keeps you from keeping the Sabbath is a stumbling block. If you make anything more important than the clear instructions of the CREATOR of the Universe you will perish.
^^This includes all the well known names such as "buddhism," "christianity," islam, judaism, and so on.
Why not, this very day, choose to walk the ancient path of obedience to ETERNAL and achieve happiness and tranquillity? The alternative is a series of disasters and stumbling blocks.
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That is a good question. Why not choose to follow the ancient path of obedience today? Well one reason is that the world is full of paths, so which is the ancient one? Another reason is that modern religiosity has paved them all, so that they all look alike. In addition, modern religiosity has switched all of the way-markers and substituted names of confusion on the ancient path. But not to worry, you can still find it, we will help you. The key is, to Quest for the Ancient of Days and that Quest will lead you to the ancient path called the 'Road to Happiness.'
In order to truly understand CREATOR's Word and the 'Road to Happiness' in these latter days of confusion, it is necessary to know Him. To know Him you must "Quest for the Ancient of Days." Let us help you with your Quest, stop by our web site at , and see for yourself. We will leave the light on for you.
May our loving CREATOR grant peace and understanding.