Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Saturday, April 16, 2022

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Theme: THE SIGNICANCE OF THE NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD ALMIGHTY

Text: “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” – Exodus 3:15.

Comment: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the three generations in the lineage of the Israelites through whom the nation was founded. When Moses was being sent to lead the people to freedom the names of their most prominent forbears were invoked to give weight to the mission and get their cooperation. Moses was also given some signs to show the elders of the people, “That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.” (Exodus 4:5). In saying prayers to God the names of these patriarchs are also mentioned, especially in time of old. An instance was the prayer made by Elijah in his famous contest with the prophets of Baal. “And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.” – 1Kings 18:36 It needs be pointed out that these fathers of the Jews are being remembered because they rendered exemplary service to God during their life time, hence Jesus Christ the Saviour says “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” – Matthew  22:32. Please look up Romans 14:7-9; Ecclesiastes 9:10.