The Third Commandment – Part 3
That is how our God reveals Himself. He does not give a single name, for His name must contain all that He is—and we cannot comprehend that.
The Third Commandment – Part 3
Exodus 20:7
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
In Exodus 3, Moses found himself in the presence of God at the burning bush. God told him that he would go to Egypt to deliver His people from slavery.
Moses asked two questions—questions that every man or woman should ask when they come before God: “Who am I?” and “Who are You?” (Ex. 3:11–13).
This exchange gets to the heart of why God’s name matters. Who was Moses? A man made from dust, given life by the living God. That is why God told him to remove his sandals—the shoes separated him from the very ground from which he was made.
Only God is holy. Holy means “different” or “set apart.” God wanted Moses to understand that there was only one holy Being in this encounter. He wanted Moses to know clearly who was God and who was simply clay.
When Moses asked for God’s name, God replied: “I Am Who I Am.”
That is how our God reveals Himself. He does not give a single name, for His name must contain all that He is—and we cannot comprehend that. Instead, He makes Himself known by what He does.
He is the Lord of Glory, the Deliverer, the Gracious and Merciful God, the Preserver of Men, the Shield of Your Help, the Beginning and the End, the Shadow of a Great Rock in a Weary Land … and many more. In fact, there are over 900 names, titles, and descriptions of God throughout Scripture.
The lesson of the Third Commandment is this: taking God’s name in vain is not limited to misusing His name with our words. It also happens in our minds and hearts. His name is inseparable from His character and His works. We take His name in vain every time we fail to acknowledge Him as the Supreme God over every part of our lives.
To obey this commandment, we must first know who we are—dust, dependent on God—and then come to terms with who He is: holy, sovereign, and worthy of all worship. His name is never empty. His name is life itself.
Revelation 5:12
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
