There is debate about the correct pronunciation of the name; Hebrew “YHWH” is either pronounced Yahweh, Yahveh, Yehovah. Whatever the correct pronunciation actually was, one thing is certain; in the ancient Hebrew mind the name carried with it a statement about the nature of God. That nature of God was declared by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and seen in the Son of God Jesus Christ while He dwelt among us.
The English “Word” in the Gospel According to John has been translated from the Greek “Logos.” Despite all that the Greek Philosophers had to stay about “Logos,” I think by context, what John was saying in the prologue of his gospel account; Jesus is the word spoken to Moses on Mount Sinai become flesh.
The Habakkuk passage combined with Exodus 34:5-7 exposes an apparent contradiction between the love of God and the justice of God. Habakkuk is saying that he does not understand how a God who hates evil can look favorably on those who do evil. I’ll tell you the truth, for a very long time this made no since to me either, that was until I gave up and asked God to show me His glory.
How can God be gracious to whom He will be gracious, yet by no means leave the guilty unpunished? This made no since to me; so, allow me to explain, that you may see the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Exodus 34:5-7, on one hand you have a God who forgives sin, but on the other hand a God who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Which is it? Does God forgive sin or does God punish the guilty and if both how? In order to forgive sin, the one you are forgiving must first of all be guilty. If God forgives the sins of anyone He must leave them unpunished or He has not forgiven their sin.
The last four words of Romans 6:23 give the answer, “in Christ Jesus our Lord,” but what is it about this Jesus that makes it so that God can forgive sin and uphold His word? “He made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Co.5:21) Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (Jo.10:11) God can forgive the sins of those who believe in and follow Jesus, because Jesus never sinned and willingly took the wages for the sins of His sheep.
Who is this Jesus? The entire Gospel According to John was written, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (Jo.20:31) Jesus is God in human flesh; throughout the Gospel According to John Jesus demonstrated in both word and deed the attributes of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Why the incarnation? God became man and dwelt amongst us for two main reasons: 1) That we may know Him. 2) To make satisfaction for our sin to God as our substitute. Two of my favorite books deal with the issues of the incarnation and the satisfaction for human sin. I recommended them both: 1) On the Incarnation by Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria (296-373). 2) Cur Deus Homo: Why God Became Man by Anselm Bishop of Canterbury (1033-1109).
I leave you with a quote from each of these great authors: The first is by Athanasius on the subject of knowing Him. The second is by Anselm on the subject of making satisfaction for sin and why the substitute had to be God and not some created being like an angel.
Anselm. Cur Deus Homo: Why God Became Man. Lexington: Beloved Publishing, 2014.
Athanasius. On the Incarnation. Lexington: Fig-Books, n.d.
The Holy Bible: Udated New American Standard Bible. La Habra: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
Yarnell III, Malcom B. God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits. Nashville: B&H Academic ebook, 2016.