Bible Discussion Thread

Where does it say in the Bible that Moses asked God what his name was and he said I breathed life into you my name is inhale exhale

Agreed Chris,

We should avoid mystical practices that are being touted in some churches today as a means to draw nearer to God and be unified with Him. We already are unified with Christ upon our conversion. We do not need to exercise mystical disciplines in an effort to gain an "experience with God". The pagan religions teach this type of religious actions. We should not adopt their practices even if we rename them and "christianized" them. Many of the mystical practices were employed by monks who were isolated from the rest of the world in a monastery without a need to work for a salary and supply for their families (as they had none). They had lots of time on their hands to "experiment" with many things they may think up to do to come in closer contact with God.

My feeling is that the monastic life is not the life God made us to live. We were made to marry and have children which would necessarily engage us in the everyday tasks of earning a living, caring for our children, upkeeping our homes, fellowshipping with neighbors, extended family and Christians we know. Over the centuries, people were far too busy with these things to escape in the ways the monks did.

I think that in today's society, with so much leisure time, we, more than any other time in history, have too much time available to use up and many, being weary of the everyday and mundaneness of life seek deeper spiritual experiences in the wrong ways.

We are hearing about churches involved with "centering" prayer, labyrinth walking, yoga, mindfulness, contemplative practices, SOZO, "Destiny" card (tarot) readings, along with more frenzied "worship" being whipped up by the workings of the music team.

People have "itching ears" and "ants in their pants" being desirous to experience the next "new" thing in worship and Christian fellowship. Many are trying out practices that come from the eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, etc. Many are experimenting in types of meditation ....

Hi Mary. In your question, I see two different messages there.

a. In Exodus 3:13,14, Moses asks God what Name shall he give them, when they ask, "What is his name - this God of their fathers?" Here, God tells Moses to tell them that His Name is "I AM THAT I AM". I AM the Self-existent One, the same God Who was with your fathers.

b. Now the rest of your question is not found in the Bible, but some scholars(?) & rabbis take the word, LORD, as in Exodus 3:15 "The LORD God of your fathers" & refer to it particularly. In Hebrew, LORD is Yahweh (YHWH), & it is claimed (I believe erroneously), that YH & WH also constitute the breathing sounds when spoken. That is, YH is the sound/act of inhalation, & WH the sound/act of exhalation. And of course, this belief then develops into other absurdities, such as a baby's first cry being God's Name or even in human's natural breathing, we are speaking out God's Name.

So Mary, I would just stick to God's Word for all you need to know about our great God, His Name & His wonderful Works and leave off what the world tries to add to it, diluting it & suffocating it with nonsense. The LORD's Name can be spoken & praised using His Names given in the Bible & this is acceptable to Him (in whatever language) and not with some mystical meaningless thoughts added to it.

Thank you Chris for this this explanation.

I, too, have recently heard about the we use the name YHWH when we inhale and exhale. I think that our normal breathing does not necessarily fit this idea, but we can consciously use the name in breathing at times for help. For instance, when I am having problems with my asthma and I need to be more conscious and purposeful of my breathing, I can call on God for help by using his name Yah Weh in my inhalations and exhalations.

I think this is an appropriate use of His name just as we can call out the name of Jesus when we are afraid or under threat. If Jesus' name is powerful, so is YHWH. But I don't think we should use such breathing techniques as a way to enter into a deeper meditation as some do with centering prayer. This type of contemplative meditation is done in many pagan religions using some type of mantra (repeating a word over and over again) to bring one into an altered consciousness. I do not recommend such practice, as I believe it opens one up to evil influences.

God does help us when we call on Him in our distress and sometimes, the best we can do is just to call out His name. When I have trouble breathing, I must concentrate on taking deep slow breaths, so I cannot speak out much because speaking usually involves quick shallow breathing. I imagine that if someone is in severe pain or semi-conscious from an injury or anesthetic, one can also simply breath the name of YHWH with inhalation/exhalation. Sometimes that is the best we can do and God hears us and knows already that we need His help, but we are to call upon His name. This is one way we can do that.

Thanks GiGi. I can understand the point you're making with this - specifically by your personal application, calling upon the Name of the LORD in times of stress or distress.

I can appreciate what you've shared but not as some might believe: in that mystical manner of trying to invoke the divine through physical exercises of engaging an altered state of mind & conscience to get in touch with the spiritual realm. Christians should be aware of this & to be always "girding up the loins of their minds", fully in control of mind & body in our presence before God, in Christ.

...continued

their minds and opens them up for evil influences. Most people in the generations now alive have been exposed to and desensitized by occultic practices in movies, t.v. shows, books, work trainings, schools, etc. so that they do not recognize it for what it is anymore nor do red flags go off in their consciouses warning them to not partake. I think, more than ever before, we do need to be wary of the draw of such exposures. We should be learning to be content with the life God has carved out for us in this life and keep busy with what pleases the Lord and avoid large chunks of idle time.

But, as you said, Chris, what I was describing for myself is not along these lines of dabbling in occultic and pagan practices. I was describing how I can use the name of YHWH when I am concentrating on breathing to relieve effects of asthmatic reactions because I do need God's help and breathing with His name helps me to keep my trust in Him knowing that he will help me and bring me through the asthma attack.

"He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee."

Thanks again, GiGi. You have shared more thoroughly & insightfully than I ever could on this matter - things which I have little knowledge nor considered too deeply. And yes, I can see how some Churches, dabbling in unbiblical practices to attain that higher level of spiritual experience & God consciousness, would actually lead believers away from the Word, trusting in their feelings & experiences, as a gauge to spiritual living & growth. May God's Spirit move mightily in His Church to expose errors & bring the saints back onto the 'old paths' - only around the Word & leading of the true Spirit.