The Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst - Michael P. Knowles
When Moses asked God to show him his glory, the Lord passed before him
and proclaimed his name. And from that name cascaded a promise of grace
and love, compassion and faithfulness, forgiveness and slowness to
anger. The story is told in Exodus 34:5-7, but the resonant name
reverberates through the corridors of Scripture.
Michael
Knowles teases out the rich dimensions and implications of this name by
listening carefully to Exodus 34 and its biblical echoes. He
particularly tunes his ear to the spiritual meditations of later sages.
In tracing the unfolding mystery of the divine name throughout the span
of Israel's story, he finds it startlingly resolved in the God of Sinai
becoming present in our midst.
The manifold name of God has
long captivated those who trace their spiritual ancestry to Abraham,
whether they are Jewish, Christian or Muslim. This book brings this
spiritual quest into dialogue with Scripture and tradition, and invites
us to experience this God of the eternal name.
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Review
"A fascinating and erudite study. Don't be misled by the title: Knowles's goal is to get at the very heart of the Bible's presentation of God through a careful survey of selected texts. His work will surely be of interest to scholars and lay readers alike." (James Kugel, author, The Bible As It Was )"Michael Knowles has organized his theological reflection around the self-disclosure of God in Exodus 34, a wise decision indeed. The result of his close textual study is a full, free-ranging theological exposition that probes not only the biblical text but the use to which the text has been variously put in the Christian tradition. The book teems with fresh insight and will reward a careful reading." (Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary )
"How marvelous it would be if Christians started believing that God is as Scripture portrays him, and as Dr. Knowles expounds its portrayal with such a wideness of vision and breadth of insight." (John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary )
